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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Shii meets with China-Japan Friendship Association vice-president

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on February 16 received a China-Japan Friendship Association delegation led by Vice-President Jing Dungquan at the JCP head office and discussed immediate tasks to be taken related to Japan-China relations.

Jing offered his congratulations on the success of the JCP 24th Congress in January and Shii's reappointment to the chair. Appreciating Jing's words, Shii said that he was happy to see that the movement to promote friendship between Japan and China has developed in the interests of peace and progress and that the China-Japan Friendship Association has been making great efforts to this effect.

Jing expressed his concern that Japanese government leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine have made it difficult for the two countries to improve their relations and that they soured sentiments toward each other. He expressed his hope for the JCP to make efforts to solve the issue to improve Japan-China relations.

Shii pointed out that Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's visit to Yasukuni Shrine undermines the foundation of the post-war international order which condemned the wars of aggression by Japan and Germany and that it has brought into focus issues regarding Japan's relations with China and South Korea as well as with the rest of the world. Stressing the importance of building a national consensus in opposition to politicians' Yasukuni Shrine visits and their justification of the war of aggression, Shii introduced the JCP's activities to promote dialogues and cooperation with all people, irrespective of their ideological differences.

Jing stated that both the JCP and his organization need to make an effort to develop mutual understanding between Japan and China through various exchanges, including ones between political parties.
- Akahata, February 17, 2006