Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao met each other at Tokyo on Wednesday to kick start a historic summit after a gap of ten years. Hu told the press, China and Japan were at a new starting point to improve bilateral ties. Fukuda reciprocated by saying that both mega economies should work towards for better ties which was very vital for the region. Later both leaders agreed to make high-level meets more frequently to resolve all outstanding issues. Both leaders parried away from rendering concrete rejoinders for majors issues for what they have converged.
The only symbolic goodwill gesture came in the form of agreement on lending a pair of pandas from China. The only panda the Tokyo zoo had was from China and it died on April 30. Both leaders agreed to have continuous talks to the issue of undersea gas fields that holds as much as 363.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 17.9 million barrels of oil. So far, no break through was made towards gas fields issue. Negotiations were earlier baulked by former Prime Minister Koizumi, who inflamed anger with his visits to Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine, which Chinese see as a symbol of Japanese aggression. China is with a claim that its territory extends to the continental shelf’s edge, close to the Japanese island of Okinawa, and has begun pumping natural gas. Japan counter claims, the boundary is halfway between the two countries.
Earlier the five day visit of Hu Jintao was marked by ‘Free Tibet’ protests. Fukuda’s concern on Tibet’s human rights was reasoned by Hu as Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, Dalai Lama was promoting a Tibetan separatist movement, inciting violence and seeking to ‘sabotage’ the Beijing Olympics. He further added, China’s recent talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives had been conscientious and serious, and the two sides had agreed to continue contacts. Similarly, Fukudu too stated, he needed time to think whether he should attend the Olympic ceremonies. However, Hu said both Asian economic giants have no ‘choice’ other than improving bilateral ties and agreed to cooperate with Japan to find an early solution to gas field territorial dispute.