|
Chinese President Hu Jintao is due to visit Japan on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The visit is the first by a Chinese head of state in over a decade. Both the Asian giants are hopeful that the visit will facilitate steady reconciliation between them despite lingering disputes. In a sign of how crucial the visit is for Japan, Emperor Akihito, who makes few public appearances is scheduled to see President Hu Jintao during his five day stay in Japan.
Prime Minister Yasuo Fakuda of Japan remarked that he hopes to have candid talks on how Japan and China can co-operate in a wide range of fields. PM Fakuda further added that his talks with President Hu will not be limited to bilateral relations but will also extend to the peace and security of the region. China and Japan have had uneasy ties ever since Japanese aggression before World War II. Both the nations have also failed to resolve their long dating territorial feud over lucrative gas fields in the East China Sea.
International experts however remark that the visit by President Hu is more symbolic than about solving disputes. Mr. Satoru Miyamoto, from Japan Institute of International Affairs significantly remarked that neither Japan nor China can afford to make the visit a failure as China is hosting the Beijing Olympics and Japan is hosting the Group of Eight Summit in July. Mr. Hu during his five day visit apart from attending diplomatic meetings is expected to tour historic temples and meet students in educational institutes.
