China Leaves Open Possibility of Inviting Abe to War Anniv. Events

Beijing, March 8 (Jiji Press)--Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday left open the possibility of the country inviting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend events to mark the 70th anniversary of China's victory in its war against Japan. China can invite leaders of any relevant country and representatives of international organizations to the upcoming events, Wang told a press conference held in Beijing in line with the ongoing session of the National People's Congress. China will welcome whoever comes with a sincere attitude, he added. The events will be held in Beijing on Sept. 3, which is designated as China's victory day in the war by the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China. On the day, a military parade will be held for the first time since Chinese President Xi Jinping took office in March 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to attend the events. China is also reported to be considering inviting U.S. President Barack Obama. At the press conference, Wang complained that history issues are consistently making Sino-Japanese relations difficult, saying that China cannot help but ask what is the cause of the strained relations in the end. Implicitly referring to a history view of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Wang said that Japan was defeated in World War II 70 years ago but now should not lose its conscience. Eventually, Japan should make its own decision on whether to continue shouldering the burden of history or break with its past. Wang thus called on Abe to follow past Japanese government statements that offered apologies for Japan's colonial rule and aggression of other Asian countries during the wartime, in his statement to be issued in August to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Of the past documents, a statement issued in 1995 by then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the war and another in 2005 by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the 60th anniversary expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology." On the resumption of the so-called six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program, Wang said that China is ready to call on countries concerned to maintain calmness and self-restraint. It is necessary to create an adequate atmosphere and continue efforts in order to reopen the stalled negotiations, he added. The six-party talks involve China, Japan, North and South Korea, the United States and Russia. END