Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) shakes hands with China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao before a bilateral meeting during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cebu, central Philippines, January 14, 2007.   Chinanews, Jan.15 - In a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of the East Asian summits on Sunday(Jan.14) in Cebu, the Philippines, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao accepted an invitation from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to visit Japan in spring this year.

 

Wen Jiabao said the improvement of the Sino-Japanese relations was in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and welcomed by the international community.

 

Wen said this year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties, and next year will be the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty. Both are important opportunities to further develop bilateral ties, and the two sides should deal with them from long-term and strategic perspectives.

 

Wen hoped Japan would abide by the principles laid out in the three political documents signed by the Chinese and Japanese governments and keep its promise to avoid straining bilateral relations over the historical issues again.

 

Abe said that he had clarified his stance on the historical issues during his visit to China. Japan is ready to follow the principles and spirit laid out in the three political documents.

 

Wen Jiabao arrived in Cebu on Saturday afternoon to attend a series of meetings and pay an official visit to the Philippines.