Japan and China will probably agree next month to designate 2002 as a year of increased bilateral exchanges to commemorate the 30th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations, government sources said Thursday.
The agreement is likely to be reached at a meeting in Tokyo between Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and his Chinese counterpart, Zhu Rongji, the sources said. The Chinese premier will make a six-day official visit to Japan beginning Oct. 12, his first since taking the post in early 1998.
The motivation for the proposal is apparently a desire to usher in the new century by putting often shaky bilateral ties on a more stable footing through increased friendship and cooperation. Keeping ties between the two Asian powers stable is seen as a key to ensuring peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.