Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan asked Japan to incorporate a clear position on the apology issue as well as on Taiwan in a joint statement to be issued during Jiang's trip to Tokyo, Kyodo

reported from Beijing today.

Jiang's trip will be the first state visit by a Chinese head of state to Japan to mark the the 20th anniversary of the Japan-China peace and friendship treaty, it said.

Beijing toughened its stance on the apology issue following a joint declaration issued by Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and South Korean President Kim Dai Jung during Kim's visit to Japan last month.

Before arriving in Tokyo, Jiang will fly to Moscow for a four-day visit starting on November 22.