Japan to name new ambassador to China
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-01-01 11:42

TOKYO : Japan is set to name a new ambassador to China in a bid to improve bilateral ties, which have soured over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's controversial visits to a war shrine, news reports said Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Yuji Miyamoto, a career diplomat and expert on China who has been posted to Beijing before, would succeed Koreshige Anami, who will have served five years as ambassador this month, Kyodo News said, citing government sources.

The decision could be announced as early as this month, the Yomiuri Shimbun said.

But the foreign ministry was to make a final decision on the timing of the appointment after closely watching developments in bilateral ties, Kyodo said.

The next ambassador to China will be tasked with rebuilding Tokyo's ties with Beijing, which has bitterly complained about Koizumi's visits to the shrine, which honours Japanese war dead including 14 top war criminals.