On February 11th, 2004, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was attending the Ninth Sino-Japanese Security Consultation in Tokyo. Ms. Kawaguchi said Sino-Japanese relations have achieved development in an all-round manner and Japan is willing to actively seek and expand new common interests and strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Wang Yi said Japan is an important neighbor of China's and Sino-Japanese relations have always been a priority of the Chinese government. With the development of the two countries, both bilateral cooperation and common interests have been expanded. We are optimistic about the prospects for Sino-Japanese relations. However, we cannot avoid history while developing our relations. It is the only correct attitude and also the consensus of people with insights in China and Japan that we should take history as a mirror and look into the future. Wang Yi expressed China's deep regret over and dissatisfaction with recent wrong remarks made by Japanese leaders about their visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. Japan's post-war development and the establishment of its current international status are based on the reflections of its bitter and painful historical lessons. Any speech or action crafted to reverse the verdict for the war criminals will impair this base, thus obstructing Japanese efforts to build trust with neighboring countries. Ms. Kawaguchi said the Japanese government will stick to the speech made by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on reflecting its history of aggression and this standpoint shall not change.

On February 10th, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka held the Ninth China-Japan Security Consultation in Tokyo. Officials from China's Ministry of National Defense and Japan's Defense Agency attended the conference. The two sides exchanged their views on the present international and regional security situations and the national defense policies of each country in a sincere and in-depth manner. Wang Yi said China hopes that Japan can stick to the spirit of the Peace Constitution, the Three Non-nuclear Principles, the passive defense strategy and the path of peaceful development. Mr. Tanaka said that adherence to passive defense is the cornerstone of Japan's national security strategy and defense policies. Japan will never threaten other countries or make its neighbors uncomfortable.