Japan and China are discussing a possible meeting of their foreign ministers
in August, a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday, in the latest
sign of a potential thaw in chilly bilateral ties.
It remains to be seen, however, whether the plan would go ahead if Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits the Yasukuni Shrine on the emotive August 15
anniversary of the end of World War Two. The Tokyo war shrine is seen in Beijing
as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
"There is a shared sentiment that the two foreign ministers should get
together in August, given the more than amicable atmosphere that prevailed
during the recent ministerial meeting," Japanese Foreign Ministry deputy
spokesman Tomohiko Taniguchi said.
"It is very likely that the next foreign ministerial meeting will take place,
but when or where, these are still murky."
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said in Moscow late on Thursday that he
would be willing to travel to Beijing if he received an official invitation,
Kyodo news agency reported.
"As I am not particular about places, I would not mind going," said Aso, a
dark horse candidate to succeed Koizumi as prime minister when he steps down in
September.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news conference
in Beijing on Thursday that it was "of great significance for foreign ministers
of both China and Japan to maintain contact in due course and exchange visits."
But Jiang said he had no specific information on a meeting.
Relations between the two Asian neighbours deteriorated after Koizumi took
office in 2001 and began annual visits to Yasukuni, where Japanese World War Two
leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honoured along with
war dead.
Aso has angered Beijing and Seoul on several occasions with comments about
the wartime past.
But Aso, who met Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in May in Qatar, told
Reuters last week he felt ties were on the mend and it was in both sides'
interest for that trend to continue.
If Koizumi decides to pay his respects at Yasukuni on August 15, the move
could dampen any incipient goodwill, although Beijing may have already factored
in the pilgrimage.
Koizumi promised in 2001 that he would visit the shrine on August 15 if he
were elected prime minister, but he has so far steered clear of that date -- one
ripe with bitter memories in Asian countries such as China and South Korea.
Earlier this week, Koizumi told reporters he was free to visit Yasukuni
whenever he liked, a remark Japanese media saw as increasing the likelihood he
would go on August 15 this year, the last anniversary of the war's end before he
steps down.
Koizumi has said repeatedly he visits the shrine to honour the war dead and
pray for peace.
