BEIJING, March 15 (UPI) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had little meaningful to offer Monday on ways to improve tattered Sino-Japanese political ties.
During a press conference in Beijing ending the 10-day National People's Congress, a Japanese reporter asked Wen about bilateral links, which are hot in trade (more than $170 billion last year) and warm people to people exchanges (4 million), while icy and barely civil between government officials.
Wen said both sides should make a joint effort to create conditions for high-level exchange visits. Wen suggested their foreign affairs departments undertake strategic study and research on strengthening and improving relations.
The caveat was Wen's statement "problems left over from history should be properly handled," code words for China's displeasure with Japan.
Proper handling requires the "fundamentally correct view" spelled out by Hu Jintao, including honesty over World War II, acceptance of the "One China" policy and strengthened cooperation in common development.
