YOKOHAMA —

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized Friday the importance for youths in both Japan and China to study and learn from modern history, as he met with the Kanagawa governor and Yokohama mayor for lunch where they also discussed environmental issues and Taiwan.

Citing as an example China’s own sufferings from Western occupation after the Opium Wars, Hu was quoted by Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada as saying, ‘‘One must learn from history and think about the future. For the development of both Japan and China, it’s important for people in both nations to have a firm grasp of modern history and engage in exchanges.’’

The discussion on history education developed from remarks by Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa on the prefecture’s recent education reforms including requiring all students in high school to take Japanese history as a compulsory subject.

‘‘I said that unlike in China, many students in Japan nowadays don’t study modern history. In response, the president said he too is troubled that more and more young people in China also are not studying history,’’ Matsuzawa told reporters.

But Matsuzawa also said that no specifics on wartime history between Japan and China were raised at the discussions.

Hu’s remarks appeared milder than the ones he made in a speech at Tokyo’s Waseda University a day earlier, where he touched on Japan’s wartime aggression by calling history ‘‘a textbook’’ for all to learn from.

On Taiwan, Hu was quoted as saying at Friday’s lunch that if Taiwanese President-elect Ma Ying-jeou keeps his promises, which include not seeking independence, it would help to ease tensions. The remarks came in response to a question by Nakada, who is close to Ma, on the March 22 presidential election’s impact on relations across the strait.

While the issue of Tibet was not raised specifically at the meeting, Nakada said his mentioning of human rights in an opening speech was intended to send the ‘‘message.’’

‘‘Since we Japanese place great emphasis on human rights, we take all Chinese living in Yokohama as our residents,’’ he said in a 20-minute greeting session which was open to the press.

Matsuzawa and Nakada both said Hu showed great interest when they discussed environmentally friendly measures implemented by Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama, such as promotion of the use of electric vehicles.

‘‘He (Hu) said emission cuts from automobiles are extremely important to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and asked that Kanagawa’s experiment, when tested successfully, be introduced in China, too,’’ Matsuzawa said.

Hu, who issued a joint statement with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday on environmental cooperation, also praised the green measures taken at a plastic bottle recycling plant he visited in the prefecture earlier Friday.

Hu was quoted by an official at the JFE Holdings Inc plant as saying he hopes Japan’s advanced technologies will be introduced to China. Hu was also seen asking questions and taking memos as he toured sections of the plant in Kawasaki.

Also on Hu’s itinerary Friday to local areas outside of Tokyo was a visit to the Yokohama Yamate Chinese School in Yokohama, which is home to one of the world’s largest Chinatowns.

Yokohama is also a sister city with Shanghai, the first such pairing established after the two nations normalized relations in 1973. Kanagawa Prefecture is paired with China’s Liaoning Province.

‘‘Kanagawa Prefecture has played a significant role in Japan’s modernization but one thing that must not be forgotten is the contribution that Chinese residents have made to Kanagawa’s development,’’ Matsuzawa told Hu.

‘‘Sino-Japanese ties are now upbeat and we’re faced with the opportunity to further develop relations,’’ Hu said. ‘‘Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama have taken a leading role in promoting Sino-Japanese relations...and I hope you will continue to help further develop our mutual cooperation.’’

Earlier Friday, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Hu’s Tokyo hotel to bid farewell before his departure from Tokyo, Japanese officials said.

Hu, who arrived in Japan on Tuesday, is scheduled to wrap up the trip on Saturday after visiting Osaka and the ancient Japanese capital of Nara.

© 2008 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

5 Comments

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  NeoJamal at 10:05 PM JST - 9th May

  Hu’s remarks appeared milder than the ones he made in a speech at Tokyo’s Waseda University a day earlier, where he touched on Japan’s wartime aggression by calling history ‘‘a textbook’’ for all to learn from.

  I would've thought that comment was sincere had China not occupied Tibet and Threaten Taiwanese sovereignty.

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  some14some at 10:43 PM JST - 9th May

  In Japan history is left to historians and sensitive information is already removed from J-textbooks so nothing for ordinary students to learn...as for Chinese students, they remember J-History by heart!

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  OssanULTRA at 11:49 PM JST - 9th May

  In China history is left to the government and sensitive information is already removed from C-textbooks so nothing for ordinary students to learn, and they only remember "biasd one sided J-history in keeping with C-govt propganda" by heart.

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  Everton2 at 12:46 AM JST - 10th May

  hahahahhah learn history,

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  tclh at 07:08 AM JST - 11th May

  Learn from history:do not invade other country;not necessarily because you are wrong,but because that action WILL cause immense pains and sufferings on both sides.But until mankind reaches that level of understanding you need to be strong to stay peaceful.

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