Japan to deepen ties with China despite `some problems`

HANOI, Oct. 30 (Kyodo) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Saturday that Japan will continue to make efforts to deepen ties with China in a calm manner, although there have been ''some problems'' in recent weeks.
Kan's remarks came after China abruptly canceled planned talks on Friday
between him and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of regional summits
in Hanoi.
Kan said at a news conference in the Vietnamese capital that Japan-China
relations are important and Tokyo's stance on deepening a mutually beneficial
relationship based on common strategic interests remains intact.
''Our country and China in their long history have lived together in all kinds
of times,'' Kan said. ''I believe some problems occurring today are not that
serious considering what has already happened (between the two countries).''
Kan said he and Wen met briefly earlier in the day and shared the view that
they want to meet with each other in the near future.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama told reporters that Kan and Wen
had an informal meeting for about 10 minutes while in a waiting room for East
Asian leaders before their summit began in the morning.
The two leaders' brief conversation was not planned and came about naturally, Fukuyama said.
Fukuyama said both leaders ''shared the view that it was extremely regrettable'' that summit talks were not held, and agreed to ''create an opportunity'' to sit down and talk hereafter.
The two leaders also underscored the importance of private sector exchanges and affirmed their continued efforts to achieve strategic, mutually beneficial relations, the Japanese official said.
Kan and Wen last had an informal talk in Brussels on Oct. 4 on the fringes of an Asia-Europe summit.