- Title: CHINA/JAPAN: Residents in Beijing and Tokyo react to China's new leadership
- Date: 15th November 2012
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (NOVEMBER 15, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WATCHING SCREEN SCREEN SHOWING LINE-UP OF CHINA'S NEW LEADERSHIP VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING MAN CARRYING CHILD AND WATCHING/SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 42-YEAR-OLD TOURIST FROM SICHUAN PROVINCE, WANG HAOYU SAYING: "We are very satisfied with the new leadership line-up we just saw, we can rest assured now, and more importantly we have high expectations for the new leadership." PEOPLE WATCHING SCREEN MAN WATCHING SCREEN ON BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) RETIRED TEACHER MS. YANG SAYING: "We hope the new leaders can lead the Chinese people to a moderately prosperous society by 2020, so the ordinary people like us can enjoy the real benefits brought by our country's prosperity and strength." PEOPLE TALKING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING SCREEN TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 15, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ON TOKYO STREET MORE OF PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) COMPANY EMPLOYEE, RYOZO ABE SAYING: "Even with the leadership transition, I don't think there'll be big changes, but I hope that the new leader puts an end to the country's aggressive behaviour." TOKYO STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO RESIDENT, HIROAKI KAWAHARA SAYING: "I don't think Japan actually wants to quarrel with China. And by quarrelling, I think the outcome is a lot more bad than good for both countries, so I hope that (with the new leadership) it heads in a good direction." PEOPLE WALKING ON TOKYO STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOKYO RESIDENT, ERIKO NAKAYAMA SAYING: "Honestly I feel both fear and hope (with this leadership transition). The aspects of the relationship between the countries that have improved over the years can so quickly deteriorate, so I think this should be avoided at all costs." BUSY TOKYO STREET PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREET
- Embargoed: 30th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, China
- City:
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA1Y7YWEIM8FKHYW4I70PY557C9
- Story Text: Chinese people on the streets of Beijing said they had high expectations for their country's new leadership unveiled on Thursday (November 15).
China's ruling Communist Party announced its new leadership line-up to steer the world's second-largest economy for the next five years, with Vice President Xi Jinping taking over from outgoing President Hu Jintao as party chief.
The other new members of the Politburo Standing Committee - the innermost circle of power in China's authoritarian government - include premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang and financial guru Wang Qishan, who will be in charge of fighting corruption.
Xi will take over Hu's state position in March at the annual meeting of parliament, when Li will succeed Premier Wen Jiabao.
A group of people gathered in front of a big screen in downtown Beijing to watch the new leaders meeting the media broadcast live by state television CCTV.
"We are very satisfied with the new leadership line-up we just saw, we can rest assured now, and more importantly we have high expectations for the new leadership," said 42-year-old Wang Haoyu, a tourist from south-west Sichuan province.
"We hope the new leaders can lead the Chinese people to a moderately prosperous society by 2020, so the ordinary people like us can enjoy the real benefits brought by our country's prosperity and strength," said Ms. Yang, a retired teacher.
China's neighbours in Japan cautiously expressed hope the new leader would signal better relationship, though on the streets of Tokyo not all were optimistic.
"Even with the leadership transition, I don't think there'll be big changes, but I hope that the new leader puts an end to the country's aggressive behaviour," said 30 year old company employee Ryozo Abe.
Diplomatic relations between Japan and China have hit rock bottom this year after Japan nationalised disputed islands in the East China Sea claimed by both nations.
The dispute triggered massive anti-Japanese protests throughout China, some of them violent, and a boycott of Japanese products.
"I don't think Japan actually wants to quarrel with China. And by quarrelling, I think the outcome is a lot more bad than good for both countries, so I hope that (with the new leadership) it heads in a good direction,' added Hiroaki Kawahara.
"Honestly I feel both fear and hope (with this leadership transition). The aspects of the relationship between the countries that have improved over the years can so quickly deteriorate, so I think this should be avoided at all costs," added 44-year-old Tokyo resident Eriko Nakayama.
Sino-Japanese ties have also long been plagued by China's bitter memories of Tokyo's military aggression in the 1930s and 1940s as well as present rivalry over regional resources and clout. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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