Japan must face up to history and "earnestly and properly" handle the issue
of "comfort women", Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told a news conference in
Beijing yesterday.
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Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing greets the media on arrival for a press
conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's
Congress yesterday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
AFP |
Li was speaking on the sidelines of the annual
session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.
"The forced use of so-called 'comfort women' was one of the most serious
crimes committed by the Japanese militarists during World War II," Li said.
"This is a historical fact."
"Comfort women" is a euphemism for wartime sex slaves. It is estimated that
during World War II, some 200,000 women from Asian countries including China
were forcibly drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army to serve as sex slaves.
Li's remarks came a day after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan
would not offer any new apology over wartime sex slavery. Abe told reporters
last week that "there is no evidence to prove there was coercion" exercised over
the foreign women.
"I think facing up to history ought to be a powerful force of progress," Li
said, adding "taking history as a mirror and looking into the future is the
simplest and most realistic way of solving the problem."
But Li said he is confident the visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan next
month would be a success. Wen's visit, the first by a Chinese leader to the
country in seven years, is of great importance to cooperation between the two
sides, he added.
Li's confidence stems from his visit to Tokyo last month, where, he said, he
received "a warm welcome".
"I read several Chinese words that mean 'no one can block the road of
progress' at a temple on the outskirts of the beautiful ancient city Kyodo,
which reminds me that generations of Chinese and Japanese people should be
friends and no forces can block them," Li said.
He also said China would like to consult with Japan on East China Sea
development, seeking methods acceptable to both sides and making it a sea of
friendship, peace and cooperation.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.
The Japanese government should avail the opportunity to expand and deepen
bilateral exchanges, Li said.
Six-Party Talks
On the international negotiations on the Korean nuclear issue, Li said all
sides in the Six-Party Talks should faithfully fulfill their commitments to
resolving the issue. 
Work groups on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and other fields
will start work within nine days, according to a joint document adopted at the
close of the latest round of talks last month, Li said.
Darfur issue
On the Darfur issue of Sudan, Li said, the Chinese government fully supports
the consensus reached by the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudanese
government on the issue.
"It's hard to imagine the world can maintain harmony and peaceful development
if any country or international organization interferes in other countries'
internal affairs," Li said.
Hu's visit to Russia
Speaking of President Hu Jintao's visit to Russia later this month, Li said
the visit will further boost the China-Russia strategic partnership.
This year marks the Year of China in Russia, and the two countries will hold
about 200 activities to promote exchanges, he said.
(China Daily 03/07/2007 page1)
