Shii holds talks with Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau member Li Changchun

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii holds talks with Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau member Li Changchun

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on March 30 held talks in Tokyo with Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China.

JCP-CPC relations and theoretical exchanges

Shii recalled that the talks held in May last year between CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao and himself confirmed their willingness to further develop the relation between the JCP and the CPC in line with the three-point agreements: (1) contribution to the further development of relations between the two countries; (2) cooperation in the cause of peace in Asia and the rest of the world; and (3) cooperation between the JCP and the CPC, which are working under very different conditions, in the cause of socialism/communism.

These agreements reflected the developments of bilateral exchanges during the past ten years since the normalization of CPC-JCP relations, which will provide a footing for further exchanges in the next ten years, Shii added.

Shii continued that Fuwa Tetsuzo, the director of the JCP Social Science Institute, will visit China in late April at the invitation of the CPC for a theoretical exchange titled, "The current international economic crisis and Marxism (scientific socialism)."

The JCP is attaching great importance to Fuwa's visit to China, expecting his team to win great progress in the talks, Shii said.

Also expressing expectations for the theoretical talks, Li responded, "The CPC is also putting much faith in Fuwa's visit, wishing that recent theoretical developments of the JCP will be illuminated in the talks."

Recalling that last year marked the tenth anniversary of the normalization of CPC-JCP relations, Li stated that the ten years' development of the CPC-JCP relations has greatly contributed to the further development of relations between China and Japan.

Referring to the Siquan Earthquake of 2008, Li stated, "It was indeed encouraging for us that the JCP waged various campaigns in support of the quake victims and that Mr. Shii visited twice the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Thank you for your good wishes."

Li also expressed that the CPC is looking forward to another visit by Shii to China.

Response to international economic crisis

Shii said that the current international economic crisis is forcing people to endure even more hardships and that the need now is to make every effort to end this difficult situation. In a broader perspective, the present situation can offer a turning point in favor of social progress, and abilities of capitalist countries as well as countries seeking to achieve socialism to respond to and overcome the crisis are going to be tested, he added.

Thirty years after its "reform and opening-up" policy, China is now implementing the "harmonious society" policy to realistically face and overcome economic inequalities, environmental destruction, and other issues that have arisen in the course of economic growth based on a scientific view, said Shii and he expressed his hope that the new policy amid the ongoing economic crisis will work effectively and be brought to success.

Li stated that after 30 years since the implementation of the "reform and opening-up" policy, a theoretical breakthrough was made when China established a position that it will pursue a "socialist market economy." He explained that basic characteristics of a socialist market economy are to link the market with fundamental socialist systems, to be based on various types of ownership centered on public ownership, and to strengthen functions to control the negative effects of the capitalist market economy, such as anarchic moves and periodic crises.

North Korea's missile issue

Referring to the issue of North Korea, Shii said, "I would like to explain the JCP position on peace and stability in the East Asian region." Concerning North Korea's missile issue, he said, "We demand that North Korea exercise restraint on any action that could increase tension. At the same time, the Japanese government's action to promote a militaristic response without pursuing a diplomatic solution will undermine the effort to diplomatically settle the issue."

Li said, "The Chinese government is asking North Korea to act carefully and with restraint. It is important to resolve this issue through diplomacy within the framework of the Six-Party Talks."

- Akahata, March 31, 2009