China and Japan agreed yesterday to conduct joint historical research, a move expected to reduce future disputes on historical issues.

 

The announcement was made after a meeting between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

 

Historical disputes, especially concerning Japanese invasions of Asian countries including China during World War II, have regularly derailed the advancement of bilateral relations.

 

The joint research will be conducted according to the principles of the three political documents signed by both countries, including the China-Japan Joint Statement, and in line with the spirit of "facing the future," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

 

The purpose is to "deepen the objective understanding of history and increase mutual understanding."

 

The joint research will cover over 2,000 years of communication, modern history, and the development of bilateral relations in the 60 years since the end of WWII.

 

A total of 20 scholars, 10 from each side, will establish a special committee to conduct the research, and two groups will be in charge of ancient and modern history respectively.

 

The Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Japan's Institute of International Affairs will be responsible for the research, and they will hold conferences in rotation. The first conference will be held this year with scholars scheduled to publish joint research results in 2008, when the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty.

 

Relations soured after former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 class-A convicted WWII war criminals along with the country's war dead, after taking office in 2001.

 

Some politicians refuse to admit the atrocities committed by Japanese troops during WWII, causing the ire and anguish of Asian peoples.

 

During their meeting, Li said that new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last month had put bilateral ties back on track and the two sides should treasure such results.

 

He hoped that both sides could work together to "deal with sensitive issues between the two countries" and not let them interfere in the development of bilateral ties.

 

Li said that the question of Taiwan must be handled appropriately. Aso said that there is no change in the Japanese government's policy on Taiwan and will deal with the question according to the principles of the bilateral political documents.

 

Trade ministers, foreign ministers and representatives from the APEC member economies wrapped up their two-day gathering yesterday, agreeing to continue WTO negotiations and to facilitate regional trade.

 

During the meeting, the delegates spent a lot of time discussing the need to resume the stalled Doha Round of WTO negotiations.

 

They endorsed the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan roadmap for realization of the Bogor goals of free and open trade and investment in the region, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Gia Khiem, told a press conference after the meeting.

 

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the delegates reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen multilateral trading, and recommended APEC economic leaders issue a stand-alone statement on the Doha Development Agenda reaffirming APEC's resolve to resume the negotiations process without delay.

 

(China Daily November 17, 2006)