Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda Wants to Attend the Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games

You already know that Chinese president Hu Jintao is going to visit Japan on a five day tour which is seen as an important state visit by the analysts. In fact, this is going to be the first visit to Japan by a Chinese president in a decade. The five day visit will begin from May 6 to 10. Since Hu Jintao came into power in 2003, this is the longest state visit for him to any country. So, it is needless to say how significant the visit is for both the countries.

Ahead of the important tour of Chinese president, recently Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, has revealed his wish to be present in the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics Games 2008. Beijing Olympics Games 2008 will begin from August 8, 2008.

China Daily reported:

"It would be good if I could go," Fukuda told reporters.

An official announcement on attending the Games could be made during Hu's visit, Kyodo news agency quoted government officials as saying.

If Fukuda does so, it would be the first time a Japanese prime minister has attended the ceremony since 1988, when Noboru Takeshita, then prime minister, was present at the opening ceremony of the Seoul Olympics.

On Thursday, Fukuda met with 10 representatives of Chinese students studying in Japan, and told them "we warmly welcome President Hu to Japan".

Many consider it a friendly gesture shown by Japanese Prime Minister ahead of the visit of Chinese president. The visit is very important for the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Now, let us see if Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda attends the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics Games in August.