MFA SPOKESMAN'S COMMENTS
With regard to reports of Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi's remarks at the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta, the MFA Spokesman said:
"We welcome Prime Minister Koizumi's apology to countries which suffered Japanese aggression during the Pacific War. It is in the interest of Japan and all these countries to build upon this positive action of the Japanese Prime Minister. We believe that Japan has an important role to play in Asia and the world. Japan will be better able to play such a role once this history issue is overcome. We hope that this statement will begin a process that will stabilize relations between Japan, China and Korea. This is in the interest of the entire region."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
22 APRIL 2005