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Japan's new leader visits China Japan visit warms ties with China
(about 2 hours later)
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in China for the first visit there by a Japanese leader in five years. China says the current visit to Beijing by Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - the first such contact for five years - marks a turning-point in relations.
As he left on the trip Mr Abe said North Korea must not carry out its threat to test a nuclear weapon. At a meeting in the capital, both sides said they hoped to overcome tensions that have hampered progress on trade, territorial and energy disputes.
Mr Abe and his counterpart Wen Jiabao are hoping to overcome bitter disputes over perceptions of Japan's wartime record and economic rivalries. Chinese leaders also accepted in principle an invitation to visit Japan.
Both China and South Korea's leaders refused to meet Japan's last PM over his visits to a controversial shrine. Mr Abe and counterpart Wen Jiabao used the visit to express concern over North Korean plans to test a nuclear weapon.
Both China and South Korea's leaders had previously refused to meet Japan's last prime minister Junichiro Koizumi over his visits to a controversial shrine.
However, his successor was given a full ceremonial welcome in the Chinese capital.
Sino-Japanese ties
China's president, Hu Jinto, declared the visit a "positive" step while China's prime minister went further by promising friendly, co-operative relations.
North Korea must not conduct nuclear tests Shinzo Abe
In what correspondents say is a sign of the importance Tokyo attaches to the trip, Mr Abe has broken with the tradition of new Japanese prime ministers making their first foreign visit to Washington.In what correspondents say is a sign of the importance Tokyo attaches to the trip, Mr Abe has broken with the tradition of new Japanese prime ministers making their first foreign visit to Washington.
Renewed Sino-Japaanese ties are also seeen as key to addressing North Korea's threat to test a nuclear weapon. Renewed Sino-Japanese ties are also seen as key to addressing North Korea's threat to test a nuclear weapon.
Japan has warned that it will seek tough action from the United Nations if North Korea carries out the test.Japan has warned that it will seek tough action from the United Nations if North Korea carries out the test.
Isolation threat
"North Korea must not conduct nuclear tests," Mr Abe told reporters gathered at Tokyo's Haneda Airport as he departed on his first overseas trip since taking office in September."North Korea must not conduct nuclear tests," Mr Abe told reporters gathered at Tokyo's Haneda Airport as he departed on his first overseas trip since taking office in September.
"I will discuss the situation with leaders of both countries to achieve that goal.""I will discuss the situation with leaders of both countries to achieve that goal."
"We need to transmit a message to North Korea that unless it revokes its test plans, it will face further isolation from international society and its situation will deteriorate." Isolation threat
YASUKUNI SHRINE Built in 1869 to honour victims of the Boshin Civil WarNow venerates the souls of 2.5m of Japan's war deadThose enshrined include 14 Class A war criminals href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5405106.stm" class="">Abe works on the neighbours href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1330223.stm" class="">Japan's controversial shrine Mr Abe is meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese politicians in Beijing later on Sunday. Mr Abe is due to fly to Seoul on Monday for talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
He will then fly to Seoul on Monday for talks with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. YASUKUNI SHRINE Built in 1869 to honour victims of the Boshin Civil WarNow venerates the souls of 2.5m of Japan's war deadThose enshrined include 14 Class A war criminals href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5405106.stm" class="">Abe works on the neighbours href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1330223.stm" class="">Japan's controversial shrine
Both China and South Korea's leaders refused to meet former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi over his decision to visit the Yasukuni shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including 14 World War II war criminals. Mr Abe's visit marks a thwaing in relations. Both China and South Korea's leaders refused to meet Mr Koizumi over his decision to visit the Yasukuni shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including 14 World War II war criminals.
Both China and South Korea say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II.Both China and South Korea say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II.
Mr Koizumi made six visits to the shrine while he was prime minister, despite protests from Japan's regional neighbours.Mr Koizumi made six visits to the shrine while he was prime minister, despite protests from Japan's regional neighbours.
The last bilateral summit between Japan and China took place in October 2001, when Mr Koizumi visited Beijing.The last bilateral summit between Japan and China took place in October 2001, when Mr Koizumi visited Beijing.
The last meeting between the two countries' leaders came in April 2005, on the fringes of an Asia-African summit in Indonesia.The last meeting between the two countries' leaders came in April 2005, on the fringes of an Asia-African summit in Indonesia.
Regional rivalsRegional rivals
Since his recent election victory Mr Abe has so far refused to comment on whether he plans to visit the shrine.Since his recent election victory Mr Abe has so far refused to comment on whether he plans to visit the shrine.
But his election has brought the hope of a regional rapprochement.But his election has brought the hope of a regional rapprochement.
But the BBC's East Asia regional analyst Clare Harkey says that neither the appointment of Mr Abe nor the summit talks mean that the issues dividing China and Japan will simply disappear.But the BBC's East Asia regional analyst Clare Harkey says that neither the appointment of Mr Abe nor the summit talks mean that the issues dividing China and Japan will simply disappear.
At the heart of the disagreements between the two countries, our correspondent says, is a real struggle for regional dominance.At the heart of the disagreements between the two countries, our correspondent says, is a real struggle for regional dominance.
Despite being each other's largest trading partners, they disagree and compete on a range of issues, including United Nations reform and access to resources like oil and gas.Despite being each other's largest trading partners, they disagree and compete on a range of issues, including United Nations reform and access to resources like oil and gas.
Japan is worried about China's military modernisation, China is concerned by Japan's increasingly close military links with the United States, our correspondent adds.Japan is worried about China's military modernisation, China is concerned by Japan's increasingly close military links with the United States, our correspondent adds.