`Easing tension` seen in Korean Peninsula: China`s Xi+

TOKYO, Dec. 16 Kyodo -
Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping told a Japanese ruling coalition
party leader on Wednesday that ''signs of easing tension'' is seen on issues
related to the Korean Peninsula, such as North Korea's nuclear problems, an
official of the party said.
Xi, who is seen as the front-runner to succeed Chinese President Hu Jintao, was
also quoted as saying that ''several agreements on important issues'' have been
reached between the United States and North Korea,'' although he did not
elaborate.
Xi, who met with Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of Japan's Social Democratic
Party, a junior coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, was
apparently referring to recent direct high-level talks that took place between
the United States and North Korea in Pyongyang.
In the talks, the two countries reached what they call ''common understanding''
on the need to resume the stalled six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North
Korea. The multilateral framework also involves China, Japan, Russia and South
Korea.
''There is a sign of easing tension on the issues related to the Korean
Peninsula. A new chance may be coming for the resumption of the six-party talks
(on North Korea's nuclear ambitions) and the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula,'' Xi was quoted as telling Fukushima.
''There are also expectations for (progress) on relations between Japan and
North Korea. We would like (your country) to make efforts toward the resumption
of the six-party talks,'' Xi said, according to the official.
In an effort to shrug off concerns inside Japan about China's military buildup,
Xi stressed that China would like to ''concentrate on economic development''
and would like to work on economic issues ''with a flag of peace.''
Meanwhile, Xi also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada later in
the day, during which they agreed to enhance what the two countries call
strategic and mutually beneficial relations, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said
in its press release.
Referring to the meeting with Japanese Emperor Akihito, which has stirred
controversy in Japan, and talks with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Xi stressed
at the outset of their meeting that he was able to achieve the objective of his
visit to Japan, which is to reinforce mutual trust and expand cooperation
between the two countries.
Talks with the emperor were realized amid political wrangling over the
exceptional meeting arranged by the Japanese government in breach of imperial
protocol.
On a bilateral dispute over the gas field development in the East China Sea,
Okada called for cooperation on seeking progress in talks over a joint
Japan-China gas exploration project in the disputed sea. Xi referred to the
need to maintain contacts at the working-level.
==Kyodo