Japan has confirmed it will take part in the 2010 Shanghai World
Expo, the event organizer said on Thursday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has personally written to his
Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, saying that "the Japanese
government has officially decided to take part in the 2010 Shanghai
World Expo," a spokesman with the Expo's coordination bureau
said.
"The confirmation demonstrates the support by the Japanese
government for the Shanghai World Expo and also its positive
attitude in advancing relations between China and Japan," the
spokesman said.
Japan has hosted the World Expo five times, the last was held in
Aichi, last year.
To date, 89 countries and international organizations have
confirmed their participation in the Shanghai Expo, its spokesman
said.
Abe, who took office on September 26, paid an visit to China on
October 8 and 9. His visit was the first to China by a Japanese
prime minister in five years. Abe was also the first Japanese
postwar prime minister to choose China for his first official
overseas trip.
Abe's "ice-breaking" visit was applauded by Chinese netizens as
more than three quarters of them believe that a good relationship
with Japan is "important", according to a recent survey by
China Youth Daily.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)