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China and Japan hold reconciliation talks

* g Koizumi apologises for wartime atrocities

JAKARTA: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he had “very good” talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday aimed at repairing relations that are at their worst in three decades.

Asked how the one-hour meeting went as he left a Jakarta hotel where the talks took place, Koizumi waved and said: “Very good.” He made no other remarks.

The talks occurred at the end of meetings between Asian and African leaders, a day after Koizumi made an unusually public apology for Japan’s past atrocities in Asia.

The two shook hands as they met in a ballroom, Koizumi using both hands but appearing relaxed while Hu was stiff and expressionless. When they sat opposite each other at a long table, Koizumi told Hu about his trip earlier in the day to the tsunami-hit province of Aceh.

“I went to Aceh province today ... I saw that a roof of a two-storey building had been destroyed by the tsunami and realised how tall the waves were,” Koizumi said before reporters were ushered out of the room. The two governments were expected to hold separate news conferences later on Saturday.

Kong Quan, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, earlier told reporters Beijing wanted friendly relations with Japan, but added Hu was expected to tell Koizumi that Tokyo must face up to its wartime history for good ties to exist.

“The development of relations must have a basis. This basis is to take history as a mirror and face the future and I think President Hu Jintao will reiterate this point,” Kong said.

“We hope leaders of the two countries can ... eliminate the negative impact created by the erroneous actions of the Japanese side so that Sino-Japanese relations can move forward smoothly under a healthy foundation.”

On Friday, Koizumi apologised in a speech before 100 Asian and African leaders, including Hu, for the “tremendous damage and suffering” caused by Japan’s wartime past. Asked about Chinese government comments that action was more important than words, Koizumi, speaking in Aceh, said:

“In the last 60 years we have became an economic superpower and not a military state. (We are a) peaceful nation reflecting on the experience of the war.” reuters

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