Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech at the general debate of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photo: VCG

在24日的外交部例行记者会上，有媒体提问称，北京时间9月24号上午，日本首相石破茂在美国纽约出席第八十届联合国大会一般性辩论并发表演讲，提及对历史问题的认识，中方对此有何评论？

At a press conference on September 24, a media representative asked: On the morning of September 24 Beijing time, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a speech at the general debate of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, mentioning his understanding of historical issues. What is China's comment on this?

对此，中国外交部发言人郭嘉昆回应表示，中方注意到石破首相在演讲中表示，如不认真直面历史，就无法开拓光明的未来，绝不能让战争惨祸重演。战后，亚洲人民以宽容的精神接纳了日本。但我们也注意到，演讲没有提到侵略道歉，回避了战争加害者的责任。石破首相此前还曾表示，日本秉持正视历史、面向未来的精神，坚持走和平发展道路，要反省历史，牢记历史教训，不再重蹈战争覆辙。

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China noted Prime Minister Ishiba's remarks which said that "No country can open a bright future without facing history head-on” and that Japan has been accepted thanks to the spirit of tolerance shown by Asian countries after the war.
However, Guo said that we also noted that the speech did not include an apology for aggression and evaded the responsibility of the war perpetrators. Prime Minister Ishiba has previously stated that Japan, upholding the spirit of facing history and looking to the future, adheres to the path of peaceful development, intends to reflect on history, remember the lessons of history, and not repeat the mistakes of war, Guo said. 

他表示，今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年，中方始终认为，以正确态度认识和对待历史，以实际行动体现对侵略历史的反省和道歉，是日本战后重返国际社会的重要前提，事关中日关系政治基础，事关日本与邻国的关系，也事关日本的国际形象。

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China consistently believes that understanding and treating history with a correct attitude, and demonstrating reflection and apology for the history of aggression through concrete actions, are important prerequisites for Japan's post-war return to the international community. This concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations, affects Japan's relations with its neighbors, and also pertains to Japan's international image, Guo said. 

郭嘉昆称，《中日联合声明》中明确写入，日本方面痛感日本国过去由于战争给中国人民造成的重大损害的责任，表示深刻的反省。我们希望日方深刻反省历史罪责，认真汲取历史教训，本着对历史、对人民、对未来负责任的态度，同一切美化掩盖侵略历史的行为彻底切割，坚持走和平发展道路，以实际行动取信亚洲邻国和国际社会。

Guo continued that the China-Japan Joint Communiqué clearly states that the Japanese side keenly feels the responsibility for the grave damage caused by Japan to the Chinese people through war in the past and expresses deep reflection. We hope that the Japanese side will deeply reflect on its historical crimes, earnestly learn the lessons of history, adopt an attitude responsible to history, the people, and the future, completely sever ties with any actions that glorify or conceal the history of aggression, persist on the path of peaceful development, and gain the trust of Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions, the spokesperson said.