Tokyo moves towards better Moscow ties

Press, 21 September 1978, Page 8

Tokyo moves towards better Moscow ties

NZPA-Reuter Tokyo The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Takeo Fukuda) yesterday announced the start of a new era in the country’s diplomacy, and said his Government would try to improve relations with the Soviet Union. “The promotion of friendly relations with the Soviet Union on the basis of genuine mutual understanding is one of the important tasks of Japanese foreign policy," Mr Fukuda told an extraordinary session of Parliament. Relations between the two countries are at present strained because Japan, des» pite warnings from Moscow, signed a peace and friendship treaty with China last month. A main task of the special

i 34-day session of Parliament is to approve the treaty be- ■ fore a visit to Tokyo next ! month of the Chinese Vicechairman (Mr Teng Hsiao- ■ ! ping). : Although Mr Fukuda said I that he intended to continue i to promote exchanges between Japan and Russia, the 1 two countries must sign a peace treaty to develop truly . stable relations. t He said this could come . about only if Russia re5 turned four northern Pacific 3 islands, claimed by Japan ’ but occupied by Soviet . forces at the end of the Sec- . ond World War. Japan wants the islands j back and refuses to discuss t a peace treaty until they are ■ returned. The Russians offi- , cially maintain that there . are no territorial disputes t between the two countries. Despite Japanese protests, 1 Soviet armed forces con-

ducted military exercises near the islands, just off Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, at the weekend. “The Government is rescflved to persevere untiringly in its negotiations with the Soviet Union,” said the Prime Minister. He said that Japan, with its increasing wealth, must play a greater role in the world. “The diplomacy of Japan has entered a new era in which it can no longer be content with reacting passively ter what takes place in the world,” he said. Mr Fukuda said the SinoJapanese peace treaty was of profound significance. It would not only strengthen relations between the two countries, but also contrib ute to the peace and stability of Asia, and thus the world.