On Oct. 20, 2000, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan accompanying Premier Zhu Rongji at the 3rd ASEM meeting in Seoul met with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono.


Kono first congratulated upon the success of Premier Zhu? s visit to Japan. He said that the visit is an important one at the turn of the century. Apartment from official functions, Premier Zhu also talked directly with ordinary Japanese citizens from all walks of life, enabling the Japanese people to realize, more than ever, the importance of Japan-China ties and greatly increasing their trust in China. Therefore, the Japanese side commended highly on the just-concluded visit. He went on to say that during the visit, the two sides also reached consensus on how to promote mutual understanding and step up cooperation. He hoped that the consensus can be implemented at an early date. Japan attaches great importance to the coordination between China and Japan in regional economic cooperation and hopes that the meeting by the leaders of Japan, China and ROK during the East Asia leadership meeting will be successful.


Tang said that Premier Zhu?s visit to Japan helps to deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust politically and specify that bilateral economic cooperation should be expanded and deepened. The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs. The two countries should implement the results of the visit as soon as possible and work towards the goal of establishing friendly and cooperative partnership devoted to peace and development launched by President Jiang Zemin during his visit to Japan in 1998.


Kono said that Japan has all along supported China?s accession to WTO at an early date and will continue to make efforts in this aspect.


Tang reaffirmed China?s position on the question of Taiwan. And the Japanese side undertook to continue to handle its relations with Taiwan in line with the principles set forth in the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration.