Left Flank

As discord erupted in Pakistan, it seems nothing but fulsome verbiage about deadlines and promises has bloomed in China between prime ministers, China's Wen Jiabao and Japan's Yasuo Fûkûdá. I would like to hear from a translator, but it seems Fûkûdá added yet more words to Japan's continuing avoidance of uttering an apology.

Speaking at Peking University, Fûkûdá also urged China to become Japan's partner in creating a peaceful and stable world, saying it is both a great opportunity and responsibility for the two nations to do so.

Referring to Japan's militarism as "an unfortunate period" in history, Fûkûdá said, "I believe it is our responsibility to squarely look at it and pass it on to our offspring.

"I believe we can prevent mistakes in the future only if we properly look at the past, and have the courage and wisdom to repent what we must repent," he said, triggering a round of applause from the mainly Chinese audience.

Fûkûdá's speech during his four-day visit to China was the first in the country by a Japanese prime minister since Ryutaro Hashimoto's 1997 trip.

It was broadcast live on China's state-run television, a rare move by China and seen as symbolic of the recent warming of testy bilateral relations.

"Japan and China have become major presences" in the world, Fûkûdá said. "The fact that Japan and China have come to acquire the abilities to contribute to the stability and development of Asia and the world is a big chance for the two countries," he said.

Both FT and Reuters listed the same issues both leaders enumerated for further discussion or as "progressing", including Taiwan, North Korea, and Sino-Japanese joint oil exploration. Asahi used the phrase for 2008 as "first year for a great leap in bilateral relations". And, PM Wen Jiabao announced that President Hu Jintao would visit Japan in April, 2008.

Now, who said Pyongyang was the only master of verbiage and brinkmanship in East Asia?