Bush hopes China - Japan relations improve

Washington, Jul 12: President George W Bush said he would like to see relations between Japan and China improve, pointing out that countries that have been cool to each other in the past can unite against common threats.

Ties between the two Asian countries eroded after Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who took office in 2001, made annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where those honored include Japanese World War Two leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal.

''I would hope it would improve, is the best way to put it,'' Bush said about Japan-China relations. ''I think it's an important relationship. And I can't make it improve. That's up to the parties to make it improve. I can say, I hope it improves to both parties, which I'm more than willing to do.'' Bush demonstrated his strong friendship with Koizumi, who leaves office in September, by taking the Japanese leader and Elvis Presley fan to the singer's Graceland home.

The United States is hoping China will use its influence over North Korea to bring Pyongyang back to six-party negotiations over its nuclear program.

Bush said ties were forming between countries that might have been unthinkable at earlier points in history -- including the United States and Japan during World War Two.

''It's a new framework,'' Bush said in an interview on Monday with reporters from Russia, Germany, Japan and Italy before his trip to the G8 Summit in Russia.

''It's an interesting data point in history to know that nations with different backgrounds and at times warring with each other are now working together to deal ... with the common threats,'' he said.

It was in America's interest to work closely with Japan and for Japan to have better relations with China and South Korea, Bush said.

''And that's going to be up to the Japanese leaders to make the determination of how to do that,'' he said. ''It's in our nation's interest that our friends have good relations with other friends and acquaintances.''

REUTERS

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