Japan, China foreign ministers discuss gas projects, N Korea
Monday, 18 August 2008
BEIJING, Aug 17 (AFP): Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura was in China today to discuss plans to jointly develop East China Sea gas fields amid rapidly warming relations between the two Asian economic giants, an official said.
Koumura and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also planned to discuss issues relating to North Korea, including Pyongyang's pledge to reinvestigate the abduction of Japanese nationals as part of its spy programme, Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama told reporters.
"We would appreciate any efforts on the part of the Chinese government to put pressure on the DPRK (North Korea) to come forward on this issue," he said.
Japan has long had tense relations with North Korea due to the regime's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and culture.
Tokyo has made it clear to China and its partners in the six- party nuclear North Korea talks that it would withhold energy aid for Pyongyang until the kidnapping issue was addressed, Kodama said.
Koumura and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also planned to discuss issues relating to North Korea, including Pyongyang's pledge to reinvestigate the abduction of Japanese nationals as part of its spy programme, Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama told reporters.
"We would appreciate any efforts on the part of the Chinese government to put pressure on the DPRK (North Korea) to come forward on this issue," he said.
Japan has long had tense relations with North Korea due to the regime's abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies in Japanese language and culture.
Tokyo has made it clear to China and its partners in the six- party nuclear North Korea talks that it would withhold energy aid for Pyongyang until the kidnapping issue was addressed, Kodama said.