Chinese PM warns Japan to stand by its apologies

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged Japan's parliament on Thursday not to forget Tokyo's wartime aggression even as the two Asian powers mend their strained ties and bolster thriving business relations.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged Japan8217;s parliament on Thursday not to forget Tokyo8217;s wartime aggression even as the two Asian powers mend their strained ties and bolster thriving business relations.

Wen8212;the first Chinese leader to address the parliament in 22 years8212;was on a three-day 8220;ice-melting8221; trip to Japan as the two countries worked to reverse a deterioration in ties caused in part by disagreements about the past.

The Chinese premier, who spent part of Thursday urging Japanese business leaders to invest in China, also struck a conciliatory note, acknowledging Japanese apologies and blaming a clique of militarists for Tokyo8217;s invasions of China.

8220;To reflect on history is not to dwell on hard feelings but to remember and learn from the past in order to open a better future,8221; he said.

The two countries have been at odds in recent years over Japan8217;s invasions and occupation of China in the 1930s and 40s. China has accused Japan of not fully atoning for its aggression, while some Japanese feel accounts of their wrongdoings have been exaggerated.

Japanese officials said they were satisfied so far with the visit, which was to end Friday.

8220;Premier Wen Jiabao8217;s speech was very positive, and I thought it was very good that forward-looking remarks were made on broad-ranging issues,8221;Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said.

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On Wednesday, Wen and Abe declared their firm intentions to move forward on rebuilding relations, signed agreements on energy and the environment, and issued a joint statement that laid out a series of issues for the countries to cooperate on.

Much of Wen8217;s activities on Thursday and Friday were aimed at business relations.

Later, Wen and Abe met to launch a series of high-level economic dialogues expected to boost cooperation between the two trading partners. 8220;Economic ties between Japan and China have expanded rapidly in recent years,8221; Abe told the inaugural meeting.

On Thursday, he alluded to Tokyo8217;s long-standing campaign to win a permanent seat on the UN Security Council8212;a campaign China has blocked in the past.

8211;HIROKO TABUCHI