Japan urged to 'respond seriously'  By Jiao Xiaoyang (China Daily)  Updated: 2006-04-24 15:01  
 BOAO, Hainan Province: Vice-President Zeng Qinghong on Saturday urged Japan 
to respond seriously to President Hu Jintao's recent proposals on improving 
bilateral relations. 
 "Friendly Sino-Japanese co-operation is important to both countries, to Asia 
and even to the world," Zeng told Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and 
Industry Toshihiro Nikai, who was attending the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual 
conference 2006. 
 China-Japan relations are at a low point currently as Japanese leaders 
continue visiting the Yasukuni Shrine where 14 Class-A war criminals are 
honoured, despite protests from China and other Asian neighbours. 
 When meeting with leaders of seven Japan-China relationship organizations 
last month, President Hu urged Japanese leaders to draw a lesson from history, 
act with consideration of benefits of the two peoples and the future of 
bilateral ties. Hu also expressed willingness to hold talks with Japanese 
leaders as soon as they stop visiting the shrine. 
 Zeng told Nikai that China hopes Japan can approach the proposals seriously. 
 Nikai said China and Japan should work together to promote friendly 
co-operation, and Japan will promote exchanges and co-operation with China in 
environmental protection, intellectual property rights and tourism. 
 After the bilateral talks, Nikai told the press that both sides also agreed 
to seek a peaceful solution to the dispute over gas exploration in the East 
China Sea. "I expressed the idea that the East China Sea should be a sea of 
peace, instead of confrontation," Nikai said. "Vice-President Zeng agreed with 
that." 
 When addressing the opening ceremony of the BFA annual conference on 
Saturday, Zeng said China's smooth development will provide more opportunities 
for regional co-operation in Asia. 
 According to Zeng, China's gross domestic product will exceed US$3 trillion 
in 2010, with annual imports over US$1 trillion. Meanwhile, energy consumption 
per unit will be reduced by 20 per cent and emission of pollutants cut by 10 per 
cent.  
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