Aso proposes Japan, China set up hotline

Friday 24th October, 03:06 PM JST

BEIJING —

Prime Minister Taro Aso has proposed that Tokyo and Beijing open a hotline for bilateral communications by top leaders during his talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday, and the two countries reached an agreement on the proposal, a Japanese official said. Aso, now visiting Beijing for a meeting of Asian and European leaders, made the proposal, citing the need to build a relationship of trust, according to the official.

While Japanese and Chinese leaders have been stepping up contacts, already having held several rounds of talks this year, setting up a hotline is believed to be aimed at further reinforcing top-level communications and exchanges that may be needed in an emergency situation and other occasions.

Meanwhile, Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak agreed during their talks Friday on a plan to hold a tripartite summit in Japan that also includes China later this year and confirmed that they will work closely in addressing the global financial crisis, a Japanese official said.

During their 40-minute talks, Aso and Lee also agreed to strengthen relations through increased contacts between leaders, the official said. Lee extended an invitation to Aso to visit his country and Aso expressed appreciation to the offer, according to the official.

Lee basically agreed to Japan’s proposal for holding the trilateral summit in Fukuoka in December, according to South Korean presidential spokesman Lee Dong Kwan.

The two leaders also agreed to work closely for the denuclearization of North Korea, the Japanese official said.

Aso sought South Korea’s cooperation on the issue of Pyongyang’s abduction of Japanese nationals, and Lee expressed his support for Japan’s position, by telling Aso, ‘‘North Korea should address the inhumane issue of the abduction cases,’’ according to the official.

The two exchanged notes on the global financial crisis and agreed on the need to closely work toward an economic summit of the world’s major nations to be hosted by U.S. President George W Bush in Washington on Nov. 15, the official said.

The bilateral talks did not cover the territorial dispute that has chilled the relations, the official said. The dispute concerns two South-Korean administered uninhabited islets, also claimed by Japan, in the Sea of Japan, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.

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8 Comments

MissWorldTravel at 09:15 AM JST - 24th October

Way to go Aso-san
ptolemy at 11:25 AM JST - 24th October

They exchanged gifts. Jintao gave Aso a case of gyoza and frozen mame, Aso gave Jintao a case of Cup Noodles. Ptolemy says, just dont be in the way of the toilets, or they shall surely soil themselves.
yosun at 10:52 PM JST - 24th October

why do they need the hot line? there wouldn't be possible any sudden war happened between China and Japan and suppose they only want to talk about the US economic even an ordinary mail can do it.
The_Marion at 11:58 PM JST - 24th October

Aso, now that you are buddies why don't you and Lee go to the Koreas and bring thm back together - then we can bring back ALL the US military - back where they belong!
some14some at 12:07 AM JST - 25th October

Hotline will remain dead just wasting connection charges.
gotubadboy at 05:48 AM JST - 25th October

""While Japanese and Chinese leaders have been stepping up contacts, already having held several rounds of talks this year, setting up a hotline is believed to be aimed at further reinforcing top-level communications and exchanges that may be needed in an emergency situation and other occasions.""

Sur Mr Aso, SO Who U ganna call when they fire a I.C.B.M. toward Tokyo!!!??? Not them Idiot.
teaabe at 05:00 PM JST - 25th October

just give out your personal cell number...
reddragonguy at 07:49 PM JST - 27th October

I dont mind the Japanese part talking anything to China...just dont bringing up military transparency or complaining Chinese military budget besides that is OK,it was a taboo and should avoid to discuss