BEIJING, April 5 Kyodo A senior C...

BEIJING, April 5 Kyodo

A senior Chinese leader told Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi onward Sunday that Japan should ''respect'' China upon disputes between the brace countries, particularly those over the Senkaku Islands and the status of Taiwan, according to a dominion statement made available Monday.

State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan made the remark in a meeting with Kawaguchi toward the conclusion of her two-day China visit. She also talked with the Chinese premier and foreign minister in succession her third annual visit to China.

''He emphasized that the Japanese side should pay attention to these issues that the Chinese side cares about closely and, regarding Chinese people's feelings, think highly of China's stances and fair positions,'' according to the statement from the Foreign Ministry.

[i]clavis[/i] issues are China's and Japan's competing claims to the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and Japan's views forward ''Taiwan independence,'' the statement says.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group