Nov 27 11:15 AM US/EasternTOKYO, Nov. 28 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday that Japan's relations with China are improving as if "spring has already arrived," in a meeting with a group of Chinese media officials.
"I believe spring has already come to Japan-China relations. I want the spring to continue as long as possible. Because when summer comes, something that could ignite tempers could happen again," Fukuda was quoted as telling the Chinese group who were paying a courtesy call on him.
About the summer remark, Fukuda was asked by reporters later in the day whether he meant he would be concerned that the issue of the war- linked Yasukuni Shrine would draw renewed attention around the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II.
Fukuda only said it is a "bad habit" of reporters to make a leap in logic from what was actually said.
"When summer comes, it becomes hot. There wasn't anything more to it than that," he said.
In talks with the Chinese media officials, Fukuda also said he was surprised to know that Japanese and Chinese leaders have never directly talked over the phone until Fukuda did so with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao shortly after he took the office in late September.
"There are many things that should be done in Japan-China relations," Fukuda was quoted as saying and added that he wanted to create a relationship in which both countries can talk frankly to each other, according to a participant in the talks.
Fukuda succeeded Shinzo Abe, who was credited with improving Japan's ties with China. Relations sharply deteriorated under Abe's predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, who upset Beijing by repeatedly visiting Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo that honors Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals.
On the August anniversary of the end of World War II, many politicians visit the Tokyo shrine. Koizumi became the first sitting prime minister in 21 years to visit the shrine on the anniversary in 2006.
Fukuda, known for his dovish stance promoting amicable relations with China and Japan's other Asian neighbors, has said he will opt not to visit the shrine.
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