By DPA
Beijing : New Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda ended his first official visit to China Sunday with an appeal for both countries to work together.
“It is sure that Japan and China can contribute more to Asia and the world at large if we cooperate with each other,” news agency Xinhua quoted Fukuda as saying.
“We have the responsibility to cement our ties,” he added.
Fukuda, during the final leg of his four-day trip, visited east China’s Shandong province and the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, the hometown of the ancient Chinese philosopher.
The visit, which saw bilateral agreements signed in a number of fields, was seen as a “herald of spring” for China-Japan ties.
Relations between the countries were practically frozen between 2001 and 2006 after China took offence at visits by former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours war dead including some convicted of having committed war crimes in China.
Fukuda told reporters Sunday morning his visit to the hometown of Confucius had left a “deep impression” on him.
The visit demonstrated “the common cultural background between the Chinese people and Japanese people,” said a spokesman.
The Chinese leadership had provided an especially warm reception for Fukuda, seen as more China-friendly than his predecessors.
Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a visit to Japan next spring, which will be the first visit to Japan by a Chinese head of state in 10 years. Hu is also expected to attend as a guest a July summit of Group of Eight (G8), scheduled to take place in Japan.