Japan's FM is Hopeful of Sino-Japan Summit

日外相对日中首脑会谈抱有希望

Japan's reappointed Foreign Minister, Taro Aso, says he believes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new administration will be able to set up a Sino-Japanese summit. Mr. Aso made the comment shortly after Shinzo Abe was elected Tuesday as Japan's new Prime Minister. In responding to Mr. Abe's election, China's Foreign Ministry said the country hopes Japan's new leadership will push for the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations.

Relations between Japan and China have worsened significantly in recent years, mainly due to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to a shrine honoring Japan's war dead, including convicted World War Two criminals. China and South Korea have both refused to hold summits with Japan in the past because of the Yasukuni shrine visits.

Mr. Abe has visited the shrine in the past, but has not indicated whether he will continue the visits now that he is prime minister.

日本重新获得任命的外务大臣麻生太朗说， 他相信安倍晋三首相的新内阁能够安排一次中日首脑会谈。麻生太朗在安倍晋三星期二被选为日本新首相之后不久发表上述看法。在回应安倍晋三当选新首相时，中国外交部说， 中国期望日本的新领导层将推进中日关系的改善和发展。

中日关系近几年来严重恶化，主要是因为前首相小泉纯一郎一再参拜供奉有包括二战战犯在内的日本战争亡灵的靖国神社。中国和韩国因为小泉纯一郎的参拜靖国神社而拒绝和日本举行首脑会谈。

安倍晋三过去也参拜过靖国神社，但是还没有表明在担任日本首相之后，他是否会继续参拜。