BEIJING: Japan needs to make a clean attitude to the past was the precondition break from its inglorious past and take on to looking forward. an entirely new outlook if it wants to have"If the history question is handled stable and healthy relations with China properly, then relations between the three and South Korea, China's foreign minister countries can progress. Ifnot, then they will said yesterday ahead of a weekend trilat certainly stall, Mr Wang said, according to the foreign ministry's website. eral summit. The neighbours have been moving to"This certainly isn't China and South improve ties long overshadowed by their Korea clinging on to old debts, butbecause painful history, holdinga foreign ministers for these three countries there is no way to meeting in March and trying to restore what avoid history, and it cannot be overlooked! had been a regular forum at the summit Sincerity was key, Mr Wang said. level to discuss cooperation. "We hope that Japan genuinely and sin- Ties with Japan have been strained cerely reflect on mistakes, simply by what Beijing and Seoul see as Japanese and directly make a clean break with that leaders' reluctance to atone for the coun inglorious past, take an entirely newoutlook s wartime past. to join hands with the people ofChina and China and South Korea suffered under South Korea and get on the path to health Japan's sometimes brutal occupation and stable and sustainable development first colonial le before Tokyo's defeat in 1945. The summit in Seoul will be the Speaking at an academic forum threeinthree years, and China jing between the three, will be represented by reign Minister Wang Yi said a correct REUTERS