Hu says he is looking forward to making new friends on official visit to Japan

Monday 05th May, 04:23 AM JST

BEIJING —

Chinese leader Hu Jintao said Sunday he wants to meet old friends and make new ones during his upcoming visit to Japan, the first by a Chinese president in 10 years.

Hu is scheduled to make a four-day trip starting Tuesday in the latest sign of warming relations between the neighbors.

He said he hoped his visit would have the atmosphere of a “warm spring,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with my old Japanese friends and making more new friends during the upcoming visit,” Xinhua quoted Hu as telling Japanese journalists.

Chinese officials have already said Hu’s trip is aimed at enhancing mutual trust.

The countries have improved ties recently after they plunged as a result of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s repeated visits to a controversial Tokyo war shrine, as well as disputes over issues including the use of gas deposits in the East China Sea.

Talks on the gas deposits have not appeared to bring the sides any closer to a resolution.

But Hu said Sunday he believes the gas dispute can still be resolved, although he gave no timeframe or details.

“I believe, with joint efforts, we can definitely find a solution accepted by both sides and the issue can undoubtedly be resolved properly,” he was quoted as saying.

In addition to meeting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Hu said he will “exchange in-depth views” with Japanese Emperor Akihito.

He added that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

“The results have brought about substantial benefits to the two peoples and made important contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world,” Hu was quoted as saying.

14 Comments

some14some at 07:49 AM JST - 5th May

New friends are also with same old thinking, i am sure Hu knows that.
rjd_jr at 08:16 AM JST - 5th May

Ya wait til the Olympics and how they treat the Japanese athletes. We'll see who the real "friends" are then.
OssanULTRA at 10:13 AM JST - 5th May

Watch how China treats Japan after the Olympics are over.
evil_robot at 10:36 AM JST - 5th May

Of course he's gonna make new friends! Who doesn't wanna hang out with Hu?!
tclh at 12:38 PM JST - 5th May

Like it or not a democracy such as Japan can have different friends of different colors,a dictatorship like communist China can only have friends of "kow tow" color.Proof?...Where is the friendship between Tibet and China?Answer:Tibet is inside China's stomach.
ninjaboy at 01:57 PM JST - 5th May

It's cool to hang with Hu! Everyone's going to be making friends with China (perhaps convieniantly forgetting recent problems) as Japan is left out in the cold at its own party.
hanyan at 02:45 PM JST - 5th May

Tibet was,is and will always be a part of china!Rember that"a part of"
TonyUS at 03:49 PM JST - 5th May

As long as China continues to be communist rule, they will gain no trust from anyone as we are witnessing by the military realignments and closer partnerships with allies, such what has been going on with between the US and Japan and now finally S. Korea’s turn of leadership friendlier to the west as China continues to grow. .

So any friendship with China is a false friendship from both sides as we watch the positioning of everyone with arms and closer combined military closeness to counteract China’s build up. Friendship?? That is a joke!

Putting up with and preparing and waiting for hopeful change in China,,,, that is more like it.
jackkrone at 09:11 PM JST - 5th May

It's funny that many people are scared of China,merely becoz China is led by Communist party.If the truth is told,China's communist is not really communist now,it's been profundly changed since 1979. Don't always wear colourful glasses to eye China. CHHINA CCP regards economy and people living standard as foremost,democracy approaches followingly. The economical miracle being vigorously rolling in China is to prove how hypocritical some blind Anti-China guys are.

China will play a more important,positive and responsible role on globe,China likes to make friends with every nation on the basis of equality,respect.Don't always associate China with negative things. If CCP does not contribute anything,how CHINA be so much stronger now. some guys are jealous to see China's booming.

吃不到葡萄就说葡萄酸(it literally means one guy who firmly says grape is very sour even he has never eaten grapes)

China and Japan are both in Asia,two countries have more than 2 thousands year of exchanges,US,CA,AU,NZ etc were not born that time. I'm sure both countries normal people like to exchange more,and establish mutual trust.It's good for both peoples. Imagine,if two close neighbors are always in hostile condistions,it makes region be tense and unstable. China and Japan should look ahead,don't be misled by some WEST powers or some national extremists.
OssanULTRA at 09:26 PM JST - 5th May

What a load of CCP propaganda.
tclh at 06:30 AM JST - 6th May

"China will play a more important,positive and responsible role on globe":China is Myanmar's boss but fail to provide this hurricane's path information to warn Burmese people(only VOA tried to do it);more than 10,000 dead now.China is not very good boss,isn't it?
Nessie at 09:16 AM JST - 6th May

What happened to his old friends?
staytune at 11:03 AM JST - 6th May

So any friendship with China is a false friendship from

does such a real friend thing exist at all in global affair?like in real life personal friendship? everybody is driven by benefit.will japan serve u.s. if u.s.do not give japan enough benefit?
TonyUS at 01:17 PM JST - 7th May

Friendship is give and take, not take take take. US and its allies work on a friendship of give and take but more inportantly on mutal trust because of openness.

And yes Ossan, I am with you on that statement above. hahaha

China has changed and not really a commuist controlled country?? lol

hey lets go protest what our leaders have done and are doing.. Yeah right.. Only in China we can openly do this.. If that was the case, then yes china has changed.. but it has not changed and no ones propaganda is going to change that.