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Japan's Abe to visit neighbours First China visit for Japan's Abe
(30 minutes later)
Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe will hold summits next week with both China and South Korea, to try to rebuild ties and discuss the crisis in North Korea. Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit China and South Korea next week hoping to rebuild regional ties.
Mr Abe will go to Beijing on 8 October then fly to Seoul a day later, all three countries have confirmed. Mr Abe will go to Beijing on 8 October then fly to Seoul a day later, the three countries have confirmed.
The leaders of both China and South Korea had refused to meet former PM Junichiro Koizumi, in protest at his visits to a controversial shrine. His visit to Beijing will be the first summit meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders for five years.
Mr Abe's election has brought the hope of a rapprochement. The leaders of both China and South Korea had refused to meet former PM Junichiro Koizumi, a protest at visits to a controversial Japanese shrine.
Both South Korea and China are displeased with Japan over a number of issues, especially the continuing visits made by Japanese officials to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours several war criminals alongside other war dead. The bilateral meetings will take place against the background of North Korea's announcement that it plans to test a nuclear bomb.
The two countries say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II. In a statement, Mr Abe said the North's announcement was "regrettable", and any nuclear test by Pyongyang would "never be forgivable".
Mr Koizumi made six official visits to the shrine during his term as prime minister, but Mr Abe has so far refused to comment on whether he will continue such trips. Koizumi shunned
Correspondents say next week's meetings now have an added urgency, due to North Korea's announcement that it plans to test a nuclear bomb. The Yasukuni shrine honours Japan's war dead, including 14 World War II war criminals.
YASUKUNI SHRINE Built in 1869 to honour victims of the Boshin Civil WarNow venerates the souls of 2.5m of Japan's war deadThose enshrined include 14 Class A war criminals Unanswered questions
Both China and South Korea say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II.
Without referring to the shrine by name, a Chinese government spokesman said the summit would go ahead after overcoming "the political obstacle to bilateral relations".
Mr Koizumi made six visits to the shrine while he was prime minister, despite protests from Japan's regional neighbours.
Since his recent election victory Mr Abe has so far refused to comment on whether he plans to visit the shrine.
But his election has brought the hope of a regional rapprochement.