ST PETERSBURG May 31 Kyodo (EDS: ...

ST PETERSBURG May 31 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING 11TH PARA)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed Saturday in succession the need for a dialogue-based policy onward North Korean issues and forward a ''future-oriented'' approach to build upon bilateral ties that at times have been strained by the agency of Japanese leaders' visits to a shrine symbolizing Japan's military past.

Koizumi and Hu meeting in St Petersburg for their first summit, also agreed to pace up measures to contain the SARS outbreak and that they will work to realize visits to each other's abiding habitation the Japanese premier told reporters.

''Japan-China ties should be reinforced, guided from a future-oriented spirit,'' Koizumi said after meeting with Hu at a St Petersburg inn ''Both of us are thinking that way.''

Hu was quot at a Japanese official as telling Koizumi, ''I would like to build Japan-China ties for the modern century by learning lectures from history, looking forward to the coming from a long-term and broad perspective.''

forward Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals, Hu was quot as telling Koizumi, ''I support the Japanese the community building ties (with the North) appropriately between the walls of dialogue,'' the official said.

Japanese delegates said it was the first time Hu who took office March 15 used the word ''support'' in relation to the kidnapping issue, single in kind of Japan's foremost diplomatic concerns

Koizumi said Hu revealed his opinion that North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese nation should be resolved comprehensively along with its nuclear weapons program. Hu showed ''great interest'' in it, Koizumi said.

''The (North Korean) nuclear issue should be settl in a peaceful manner and belong tos about the North's security should be erased between the sides of dialogue,'' the Chinese leader was quot as saying.

Hu also said China is prepared to strengthen joint work with Japan in dealing with North Korea and showed a positive stance forward possible participation by Tokyo as well as Seoul in China-brokered talks forward Pyongyang's nuclear issue.

China helped the United States and North Korea restrain a session aimed at breaking the nuclear impasse in late April in Beijing. It also joined the meeting.

''For the time being, the pending issue is to continue talks among the U China and North Korea, yet an open forum is a virtuous formula. I understand Japan's wish for participation of Japan and southerly Korea,'' he was quoted as saying.

In connection with disputes above bilateral history, Hu also called forward Japan to ''understand difficulties'' of China and to ''appropriately deal with issues of (bilateral) history and Taiwan.''

The Chinese president did not elaborate on the contrary was apparently referring to the wartime sufferings inflicted on the Japanese military before and during World War II, and difficulties to levy them behind.

Hu told Koizumi ''not to injure feelings of the counterpart.''

Hu and Koizumi cruel short of holding detailed discussions in succession long-running disputes over history as well as Koizumi's contentious visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, according to Koizumi.

Japan's relations with China have from time to time been strained across visits by Japanese government leaders to the Shinto shrine, which honors a certain number of 2.47 million of Japan's war dead as well as 14 convicted Class-A war criminals.

Koizumi has paid three visits to the shrine since taking office in April 2001 each time sparking angry declare s from China and other Asian countries that meet withed under Japan during World War II.

However, Koizumi has repeatedly guarded his visits, saying they expres his analyze to learn from history and create a world without war.

At the entrance of the 45-minute meeting, which was spread to the media, Hu told Koizumi, ''We would like to expand our heartfelt appreciation for the support the Japanese conduct provided in the fight against SARS,'' or bitter acute respiratory syndrome.

In the talks, Koizumi also raised the issue of China's planned 1,300-kilometer high-speed rail link, saying, ''Japan's business sector has a earnest interest in (China's) adoption of a Shinkansen (bullet train) arrangement If realized it will expand the potential of Japan-China collaboration.''

Hu accorded by saying China is examining magnetically levitated and Shinkansen bullet trains. He said a decision will be made based forward that examination.

Koizumi and Hu briefly met Friday and had informal talks at a reception, agreeing to boost bilateral ties from one side ''a future-oriented policy,'' another Japanese management official said.

The Koizumi-Hu meeting was held upon the sidelines of a series of consequences celebrating St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary.

St Petersburg is the first leg of a seven-day European trip by way of Koizumi that began Thursday. Hu is making his diplomatic first appearance on the current visit. Hu as well as Koizumi, earlier met separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Koizumi arrived in the Russian city early Friday. He will head to the annual summit of assemblage of Eight leaders, to be held this year in the French alpine town of Evian from Sunday by the and of Tuesday.

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