日公明党代表訪華

Recently the NHK News reported the following:

中国の胡錦涛国家主席の後継者として有力視される、習近平国家副主席は、北京を訪れている公明党の山口代表と会談し、尖閣諸島沖の衝突事件について「中国として見たくない出来事だった」と述べたうえで、日本と中国の関係改善に努力する考えを示しました。
この中で、習国家副主席は、尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船による衝突事件について「中国としては見たくない、両国の関係に深刻な損害を与える出来事だった」と述べました。そのうえで、習氏は、日中関係について「胡錦涛国家主席や温家宝首相が国際会議の場で菅総理大臣と会談し、改善の方向に向かっている。１日も早く健全な関係になるよう頑張らなければならない。日本をパートナーと見なし、協力していきたい」と述べました。これに対して、山口代表は「民間交流などを通じて関係改善に努力していきたい」と述べ、政党間や民間レベルでの交流を活発化させていくことで一致しました。また、北朝鮮による砲撃やウラン濃縮計画で緊張感が高まる北東アジア情勢について、山口代表が、緊張緩和に向けた中国の積極的な役割に期待を示したのに対して、習氏は、中国と日本が緊密に協力することが重要だという認識を示しました。
After conferring with Yamaguchi the representative of Komeito who was visiting Beijing, and describing the collision event off the coast of Senkaku Islands, the National Vice-President Xue Jinping who was being considered as a highly probable successor of President Hu Jintao in China said that "For China, it was an event that we did not want to see" and showed the idea of making an effort to improve the relationship between Japan and China.
Vice-President Xue Jinping described the collision event of a Chinese fishing boat off the coast of Senkaku Islands saying that "For China it was an event that we did want to see and that had caused serious damage to the relation between the two countries". On matter about Japan-China relation Mr. Xue said ｢President Hu Jintao and the Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had conferred with Prime Minister Kan during the international conference, and is working towards the direction for improvement. As soon as possible, we should work hard to work out a healthy relationship. He wants to consider Japan as a partner, and wants to cooperate｣. In response, Yamaguchi representative said "I want to make an effort to improve relationship through civil exchanges etc.", and were sharing the same goal of activating exchanges between the political parties and the non-government level. Moreover, about the tension in northeast Asia created by the bombardment and the uranium enrichment project by North Korea, representative Yamaguchi showed his expectation that China would take a positive role in calming the tension; in response to that Xue showed his understanding on the importance of a close cooperation between China and Japan.

It is nice to see that both Japan and China are working towards reducing tension in the region.