Solving gas, dumpling rows not a must before Hu visit: China's envoy

TOKYO, March 11 Kyodo

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai said Tuesday that resolving bilateral disputes over territorial rights and a recent food poisoning case should not be made as prerequisites before realizing a visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Cui, speaking to reporters at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, also implicitly acknowledged that the trip, originally eyed for April ''when the cherry blossoms bloom,'' will be delayed until May.

''The cherry blossoms are in bloom for a relatively long period of time,'' he said, adding that the two sides are expecting to fix a date soon.

On the longstanding dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea, where exclusive economic zones claimed by the two nations overlap, Cui said it would be ''unwise'' to set a date for resolving such a ''sensitive'' issue and that doing so would only ''limit the possible areas for cooperation.''

The latest remarks are a contrast to the optimism Cui expressed in mid-January, when he said the East China Sea dispute is likely to be settled ''well before'' Hu's spring visit.

As for the recent food poisoning in Japan related to Chinese-made dumplings tainted with toxic pesticides, Cui said Tuesday one should not artificially set a deadline for resolving a criminal case.

Senior working-level talks between Japan and China have stalled over the East China Sea dispute, despite an initial aim to reach an agreement last fall. The two neighbors are also at loggerheads in investigations over the recent dumpling case.

Hu's visit will be the first to Japan by a Chinese president in almost 10 years.

Speculation is growing that Hu's trip will be delayed till mid-May, as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is likely to visit Europe during the Golden Week holidays in early May.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning