PM pushes E. Asia grouping / In talks with China's Hu, Hatoyama also discusses oil field issue

[FarCenter]

Source: Daily Yomiuri

Kohei Kobayashiand Takashi Murao Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

NEW YORK--Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama proposed the formation of an East Asian Community and called for China's cooperation in achieving that goal during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday.

"Japan and China should build mutual trust while acknowledging their differences, and on that basis, I propose the formation of an East Asian Community," Hatoyama said during the meeting held at a New York hotel, his first one-on-one meeting with the Chinese leader since he became prime minister, following his Democratic Party of Japan's historic election victory.

Hatoyama also urged Hu to start negotiations for a bilateral treaty covering the joint development by Japan and China of disputed gas fields in the East China Sea. "I want to change the sea of problems into the sea of fraternity," Hatoyama said.

In response, Hu pointed out the importance of cooperation between the two countries over the gas field development issue and proposed launching working-level talks in the near future. "It should be a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," Hu said.


Read more: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20090923TDY01305.htm

---

Japan knows which way the wind is blowing.