CHINA: Tense relations between China and Japan have eased as Asia's two economic powerhouses have agreed to set aside at least some of their differences and show a united front in strongly condemning North Korea's plans to carry out a nuclear test.
In what marks a significant improvement in mood between the two countries, Beijing yesterday said a visit by Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was a "turning point" in the relationship between the neighbours.
Links between China and Japan have been hampered by sabre-rattling and passive aggression but nerves in the region have been jangled further by last week's threat by North Korea to test its first atom bomb.
In the first Sino-Japanese talks since 2001, Mr Abe had long discussions with President Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao, as well as top legislator Wu Bangguo.
Beijing believes Japan has not done enough to atone for its wartime past and viewed regular visits by Mr Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are honoured alongside the war dead, as a serious insult to China and a glorification of militarism.
Anti-Japanese sentiment is common on China's streets, even though economic ties are close.
China is Japan's top trade partner, but Tokyo feels harangued by China on its war record and fears the way Beijing has sought to match rising economic power with diplomatic muscle.
Japan insists it said sorry long ago for events of more than 60 years ago.
Mr Abe expressed "deep remorse" for Japan's actions, which he said had inflicted "grave damage and suffering and left scars on the people of Asia".
Breaking with tradition by making China his first foreign destination, rather than traditional ally Washington, Mr Abe told reporters he felt certain his visit would "elevate Sino-Japanese ties to a higher level".He said he wanted to "build a relationship of trust with Chinese leaders".
Aware of the significance of Mr Abe's decision to soothe relations, Beijing responded in kind.
President Hu's message, quoted on state-run Xinhua news agency, was overwhelmingly positive.
"Your visit is serving as a turning point in China-Japan relations and I hope it will also serve as a new starting point for the improvement and development of bilateral ties," he told Mr Abe.
Beijing had flatly refused to hold a summit with Mr Koizumi, who stepped down last month, because of his repeated pilgrimages to Yasukuni.
The focal point for warmer ties was the nuclear stand-off on the Korean peninsula. China is North Korea's only ally of importance in the world and aid from China is seen by many analysts as keeping Kim Jong-il's regime alive.
Beijing has hosted stalled six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue.
China tried to moderate reactions to a missile test earlier this year but has taken a much sterner view of Pyongyang's behaviour over the threat to stage a nuclear test and has been forthright in its condemnation.
Mr Abe's statement reflected this.
"Japan and China shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is unacceptable.
"And this is a strong message to North Korea," the countries said in a communiqué.
China's tough message to its ally could prove significant and many regional voices are clamouring for a return to the six-party talks, which included both Koreas, the US, China, Russia and Japan.
Mr Abe flies to South Korea today for talks with President Roh Moo-hyun which are expected to focus on North Korea's threat and underline the tougher line regionally on Pyongyang's behaviour.