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Chinese premier heads to Japan Chinese premier arrives in Japan
(about 2 hours later)
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is travelling to Japan for a summit that is being hailed as an important sign of improved bilateral relations. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has arrived in Japan for a summit that is being hailed as an important sign of improved bilateral relations.
Mr Wen will be the first Chinese prime minister to visit Japan in seven years. His Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, visited Beijing last October. Mr Wen is the first Chinese prime minister to visit Japan in seven years. His Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, visited Beijing last October.
Relations between the two countries were strained when Mr Abe's predecessor Junichiro Koizumi was in office.Relations between the two countries were strained when Mr Abe's predecessor Junichiro Koizumi was in office.
But since then, there has been a noticeable thaw in relations.But since then, there has been a noticeable thaw in relations.
The two nations have worked together in the negotiations on North Korea's nuclear programme, and set up a joint study group to try to resolve disputes over their shared history.The two nations have worked together in the negotiations on North Korea's nuclear programme, and set up a joint study group to try to resolve disputes over their shared history.
Symbolic tripSymbolic trip
Japan and China have had a long but, at times, troubled relationship.Japan and China have had a long but, at times, troubled relationship.
The situation got worse under former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who stepped down late last year.The situation got worse under former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who stepped down late last year.
The Chinese leadership refused to talk to Mr Koizumi, because he insisted on visiting the Yasukuni shrine where Japan's war dead are honoured - a shrine which Japan's neighbours believe glorifies the country's wartime brutality.The Chinese leadership refused to talk to Mr Koizumi, because he insisted on visiting the Yasukuni shrine where Japan's war dead are honoured - a shrine which Japan's neighbours believe glorifies the country's wartime brutality.
Japan and China have claims over East China Sea depositsMr Abe has yet to visit the shrine as leader, although he has not ruled out doing so in the future.Japan and China have claims over East China Sea depositsMr Abe has yet to visit the shrine as leader, although he has not ruled out doing so in the future.
Since Mr Koizumi stepped down last autumn, both sides have been making a renewed effort to try to rebuild their relationship.Since Mr Koizumi stepped down last autumn, both sides have been making a renewed effort to try to rebuild their relationship.
Mr Abe went to Beijing within days of taking office, and Mr Wen's visit to Tokyo is another step forward. Mr Wen will arrive in Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon, and head straight for the prime minister's office for a meeting with Mr Abe. Mr Abe went to Beijing within days of taking office, and Mr Wen's visit to Tokyo is another step forward.
The Chinese premier is also due to make a speech to parliament, meet with business leaders and the emperor and even join in a game of baseball. Mr Wen was due to head straight for the prime minister's office for a meeting with Mr Abe upon his arrival in Tokyo.
The Chinese premier is also due to make a speech to parliament, meet business leaders and the emperor and even join in a game of baseball later this week.
"I hope the visit will be a memorable one for Premier Wen," Mr Abe told reporters. "I want to make the meeting productive, to build a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship.""I hope the visit will be a memorable one for Premier Wen," Mr Abe told reporters. "I want to make the meeting productive, to build a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship."
Oil disputeOil dispute
The two men have much to discuss. The Japanese say they hope the prime ministers will sign agreements on closer co-operation in the energy and environmental fields.The two men have much to discuss. The Japanese say they hope the prime ministers will sign agreements on closer co-operation in the energy and environmental fields.
Japan wants to sell China technology that would allow it to become more energy efficient, and also help China reduce pollution.Japan wants to sell China technology that would allow it to become more energy efficient, and also help China reduce pollution.
Agreement on a Japanese proposal for a joint venture in the East China Sea, where there are believed to be significant reserves of oil and gas, will be harder to reach, according to the BBC correspondent in Tokyo, Chris Hogg.Agreement on a Japanese proposal for a joint venture in the East China Sea, where there are believed to be significant reserves of oil and gas, will be harder to reach, according to the BBC correspondent in Tokyo, Chris Hogg.
Negotiators from the two sides have met twice in past weeks, seeking progress in the dispute, but Japanese officials have recently played down hopes of a breakthrough.Negotiators from the two sides have met twice in past weeks, seeking progress in the dispute, but Japanese officials have recently played down hopes of a breakthrough.
Efforts to end North Korea's nuclear arms programme are also certain to be on the agenda of Mr Wen's visit.Efforts to end North Korea's nuclear arms programme are also certain to be on the agenda of Mr Wen's visit.
Both sides support the six-nation agreement reached in February to disable North Korea's nuclear programme, but Tokyo often takes a tougher line against Pyongyang than Beijing.Both sides support the six-nation agreement reached in February to disable North Korea's nuclear programme, but Tokyo often takes a tougher line against Pyongyang than Beijing.
There are other differences too. Japan says China is secretive about its rapidly growing defence budget, while Beijing is wary of plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution to make it easier to deploy troops.There are other differences too. Japan says China is secretive about its rapidly growing defence budget, while Beijing is wary of plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution to make it easier to deploy troops.
This remains an uneasy relationship, our correspondent says - and some experts believe the fact that face to face meetings between the two men are taking place at all is an achievement of some significance.This remains an uneasy relationship, our correspondent says - and some experts believe the fact that face to face meetings between the two men are taking place at all is an achievement of some significance.