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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| First China visit for Japan's Abe | First China visit for Japan's Abe |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit China and South Korea next week hoping to rebuild regional ties. | 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, the 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. |
| His visit to Beijing will be the first summit meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders for five years. | His visit to Beijing will be the first summit meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders for five years. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The bilateral meetings will take place against the background of North Korea's announcement that it plans to test a nuclear bomb. | The bilateral meetings will take place against the background of North Korea's announcement that it plans to test a nuclear bomb. |
| In a statement, Mr Abe said the North's announcement was "regrettable", and any nuclear test by Pyongyang would "never be forgivable". | In a statement, Mr Abe said the North's announcement was "regrettable", and any nuclear test by Pyongyang would "never be forgivable". |
| Koizumi shunned | Koizumi shunned |
| The Yasukuni shrine honours Japan's war dead, including 14 World War II war criminals. | 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 href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5405106.stm" class="">Abe works on the neighbours href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1330223.stm" class="">Japan's controversial shrine | |
| Both China and South Korea say the shrine glorifies Japan's past militarism, particularly during World War II. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | But his election has brought the hope of a regional rapprochement. |