日本留意習近平的外交路線

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:

中国の習近平国家副主席が中国共産党中央軍事委員会副主席に選出され、胡錦濤国家主席の後継地位を確定させたことについて、政府は「習氏は日本とのかかわりが薄く、未知数な面が多い」（外務省幹部）として、習氏の対日政策に関する情報収集、分析を進める方針だ。

　菅首相は１８日夜、首相官邸で記者団に「次期国家主席にどなたがなられても、日中の戦略的互恵関係を進めるように双方努力する必要がある」と述べた。
　習氏は高級幹部子女の「太子党」有力者で、反日的な姿勢が目立った江沢民前国家主席の推薦で抜てきされたとみられる。日中外交筋は「対日外交では基本的に胡政権と同様の現実路線を踏襲すると思われるが、実際に最高指導者になってみないと分からない」との見方を示した。
　習氏と日本の関係では、昨年１２月に来日した際の天皇陛下との会見が記憶に新しい。

(試譯文)

China's National vice-chairman Xi Jinping was elected as the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, and became the successor of President Hu Jinto; because the succession position was confirmed, and that "Xi Jinping's relation with Japan was weak and there were lots of unknown", information gathering and analysis on Xi's policy towards Japan became the direction ahead for high-ranking Foreign Ministry officials.

On the night of the 18th, Prime Minister Kan described to reporters in the Prime Minister's Office that "Whoever becomes the President in the next term, it is necessary for both parties to make an effort to advance the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship between Japan and China".

It was thought that Xi Jinping was a powerful figure in the "Crown Prince Party" and was elected with the recommendation of the former President Jiang Zemin whose anti-Japan posture stood out. Japan China diplomatic source showed the view that "Although it was not understood whether or not actually he would become the top leader, it seemed that the basic diplomatic policy towards Japan would follow a practical route similar to that of Hu's administration."

On Xi's relation with Japan, his meeting with the emperor when he came to Japan last December was still fresh in the memory.

It seems that Japan is keen to know more about Xi Jinping in view of his recent promotion in China.