DATE=8/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-JAPAN VISIT WRAP (L-O)
NUMBER=2-266015
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO:  Recently strained China-Japan ties could be on 
the road to recovery after the Japanese foreign 
minister's four-day trip to Beijing.  Correspondent 
Leta Hong Fincher reports the main problem addressed 
during the meetings were allegations of spying by 
Chinese ships.

TEXT:  Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono left 
Beijing Thursday with assurances from Chinese Premier 
Zhu Rongji that China has no hostile
intentions towards Japan.  

Japan has repeatedly complained about recent Chinese 
naval incursions near Japanese waters, saying that 
there have been 17 cases of Chinese ships entering 
what Japan considers its exclusive economic zone this 
year. 

In his most public speech, to the Central Party School 
in Beijing Wednesday, Mr. Kono warned of what he 
called rising distrust between Japan and China. 

But Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji allayed many of Mr. 
Kono's worries during their meeting Wednesday night. 
China and Japan have agreed to set up a system to 
notify each other in advance of naval research 
activities. 

In addition, a Japanese official says Premier Zhu
promised Mr. Kono that Japan is still a candidate for 
a potential 15-billion dollar contract to build a 
high-speed railway between Shanghai
and Beijing. Just a few weeks ago, China cancelled a 
visit by the Japanese Transport Minister Hajime Morita 
to promote Japan's bid for the train project, 
reportedly because Mr. Morita had just visited a 
controversial shrine to war dead reviving bitter 
memories from World War Two. But Mr. Zhu promised to 
reschedule Mr. Morita's visit. Mr. Zhu's assurances 
will clear the way somewhat for his own visit to Japan 
in October. 

China's official media gave favorable coverage to the 
four-day visit, emphasizing the need to strengthen 
Sino-Japanese ties.  However, in a sign that obstacles 
still remain between the two countries, Thursday's 
hard-line Liberation Army Daily accused Japan of a 
growing militarism aimed primarily at China.  The 
article mentions Japanese plans to launch spy 
satellites and a beefed up coastal defense force.  Mr. 
Kono has dismissed the allegations. (signed)
 
NEB/HK/LHF/JO 






31-Aug-2000 10:13 AM EDT (31-Aug-2000 1413 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.