Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) In a speech to the Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta (Indonesia), Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologised for his country's wartime record in Asia.
The apology should go some way to placating Chinese anger that boiled over in the last weeks in many Chinese cities.
He said that "with feelings of deep remorse [. . .], Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all matters by peaceful means, without recourse to the use of force.
He added "developing relations of friendship is preferable to making matters worse". Beijing seems to be ready to make up with Japan. In his first public remarks about the recent wave of violent anti-Japanese protests, Chinese President Hu Jintao made it clear that Beijing would not allow social unrest. "We must always remember that nothing can be accomplished without social stability," he said.
For some analysts, the Asia-Africa summit that is taking placing in the Indonesian capital from April 22 to 24 is for the 81 participating countries an opportunity to develop common positions. As such, they believe it is a throwback to the movement of non-aligned countries.
Given the importance of the summit, United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan was able to get the participants to agree to a session dedicated to reforming the UN, particularly shaken after the 'Oil for Food' scandal. (PB)