Japan should welcome the rapid development of China's economy, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

 

Aso said that someone has mentioned China as "an economic threat," but it is good to have a competitor.

 

"Competition is a good thing in nature," Aso said. China's economy will benefit from the competition with Japan. Meanwhile, China is a huge market to the rest of the world, he added.

 

But Aso said last Thursday that China was "beginning to pose a considerable threat" due to its military development. Aso's remarks evoked criticism from Taku Yamasaki, former vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and others.

 

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang also refuted Aso's remarks as "extremely irresponsible."

 

Qin said it is generally acknowledged that China insists on a path of peaceful development, stressing that China's development has made contributions to the world peace and stability, bringing to East Asian countries, including Japan, great development opportunities.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2005)