PRESIDENT HU ACCEPTS INVITATION TO JAPAN, WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 011931 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2021 TAGS: PREL PGOV JA CH SUBJECT: PRESIDENT HU ACCEPTS INVITATION TO JAPAN, WITH CONDITIONS Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Sedney. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) . ¶1. (C) Japanese Ambassador to the PRC Yuji Miyamoto took the opportunity of his June 10 presentation of his credentials to President Hu Jintao to invite the Chinese leader to visit Japan, Japanese Embassy DCM Chihiro Atsumi told the DCM on June 12. President Hu said he would accept the invitation, "if conditions are met." Atsumi, who was present during the meeting, characterized the exchange as positive because President Hu accepted the invitation, albeit with qualifications, and did not specifically mention the Yasukuni Shrine issue. ¶2. (C) Atsumi said the Yasukuni issue looms over his Ambassador, who feels restrained from being able to have a higher profile in the media. While Ambassador Miyamoto's inclination is to engage with the Chinese public and press, he understands the need to keep a low profile at this time, according to Atsumi. ¶3. (C) Some in Tokyo had taken the two and a half month wait before Ambassador Miyamoto could present his credentials to the Chinese as a negative political signal, Atsumi offered. (Note: Separately, U.K. DCM John Dennis told the DCM that U.K. Ambassador William Erhman waited three months to present his credentials. End note.) Atsumi noted that political leaders at various levels in Japan have a real interest in moving the Sino-Japanese relationship forward. ¶4. (C) Atsumi called the decision to provide JPY 74 billion (USD 649 million) in concessionary loans to China for fiscal year 2005 that ended March 2006 a positive signal for the relationship. The 13 percent reduction from the 2004 amount is in line with the planned end of concessionary loans to the PRC in 2008. Atsumi noted that other Japanese aid to China, such as technical assistant and grants, will continue past 2008, but at a reduced amount. RANDT