China's and Japan's leaders meet, signal a diplomatic thaw

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan met Monday in Belgium to clear relations after a battle broke out after the arrest of a Chinese fisherman in September. They two talked for about 25 minutes in a corridor outside the Asia-Europe conference. During the meeting, Wen talked about the benefits of Beijing and Tokyo maintaining good relations. Both leaders "agreed to step up people-to-people exchange and communication between the governments, and hold China-Japan high-level meeting at an appropriate time," The battle over the waters, islands and the natural resources that go with them had been escalated after China arrested four Japanese nationals, for illegally entering a Chinese military zone. Three of the Japanese were released but China continues to hold the remaining Japanese national. The Chinese fishing captain was released last month and was welcomed back to China as a hero.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/05/china.japan.relations/index.html

Posted by Christine Steinbeiss