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Japan will never go to war with China: Koizumi

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Monday his country would never go to war with China and that bilateral ties were satisfactory. Koizumi told journalists at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit that Japan enjoyed good relations with China, especially when it comes to trade. “Never again will we go to war,” he said, referring to China’s dislike of his annual visits to the Yasukuni sanctuary in Tokyo. President Hu Jintao communicated China’s uneasiness when the two leaders met Sunday in the Chilean capital after the summit. “I give tribute in the Yasukuni shrine so that there will be no wars,” Koizumi said, alluding to his visits each of the three years since his inauguration. The 2.5 million Japanese soldiers who died for their country are honoured at Shinto shrine, which also contains the remains of 14 war criminals, including participants in Second World War atrocities. The APEC summit began Friday and ended Sunday. US President George W. Bush and leaders of Russia, China and 17 other countries and regional economies attended.Full Story