08-29-07

中国国防部长访日修补关系 (Chinese Defense Minister in Japan to Mend Ties)

中国国防部长曹刚川正在对日本进行访问，希望缓解两国之间的紧张关系。这是中国国防部长近10年来首次访日。曹刚川星期三抵达东京，与日本新任命的防卫省长官高村正彦会谈。

日本媒体说，两位官员可能会讨论在两国间设置一条防务热线。日本和中国彼此猜疑对方的军事雄心。北京快速增长的国防开支引起日本和美国的顾虑。中国则批评日本参与美国领导的地区弹道导弹防御系统。

中国国防部长上一次访问日本是在1998年2月。之后，两国关系在小泉纯一郎担任日本首相期间恶化。小泉定期参拜靖国神社，使中国感到愤怒。中国认为，靖国神社美化日本军国主义暴行。

China's defense minister Cao Gangchuan is visiting Japan in the hopes of easing the countries' strained relations. It is the first such visit in nearly a decade. Cao Gangchuan arrived in Tokyo Wednesday for talks with Japan's newly appointed defense minister, Masahiko Komura.

Japanese media say the officials may discuss installing a defense hotline between the nations. The countries have mutual suspicions about the other's military ambitions. Beijing's rapidly growing defense budget has raised concerns in Japan and the United States. And China has criticized Japan for its participation in a U.S.-led ballistic missile shield in the region.

A Chinese defense minister last visited Japan in February 1998, before the countries' relations soured under former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Mr. Koizumi outraged China by regularly visiting a war shrine that Beijing says glorifies Japan's military atrocities.

中国通告世卫组织其食品安全标准 (China Tells WHO of its Food Safety Standards)

中国向世界卫生组织送交了一份通知，为中国的食品安全标准辩护。中国卫生部这份通知说，中国的出口食品几乎都是安全的，北京尊重与其他国家和机构在食品安全方面合作的重要性。

这份通知呼吁世界卫生组织为中国食品安全工作提供支持和帮助，并且把这项工作向其他成员国报告。

美国和欧洲严厉批评中国出口未达标准产品，包括宠物食品原料、牙膏和玩具等。一系列与中国制造产品有关的健康恐慌，促使北京承诺加强对食品和其它产品安全的监督。

China has sent a notice to the World Heath Organization defending its food safety standards. The Health Ministry notice says almost all of China's food exports are safe, and that Beijing respects the importance of cooperating with other countries and institutions on food safety.

The note calls on the World Health Organization to provide support and help to China's food safety work, and to report this work to other member states.

The United States and Europe have harshly criticized China for exporting sub-standard products, including pet food ingredients, toothpaste and toys. A series of health scares related to Chinese-made goods has prompted Beijing to promise to strengthen its monitoring of food and product safety.