Chinese President Xi Jinping meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the ongoing Group of 20 (G20) summit on July 8, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAMBURG, Germany - In a high-profile meeting here on Saturday, President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen the partnership and cooperation between the two countries in the future despite differences in a trove of issues and severe challenges ahead.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing Group of 20 (G20)summit in the German port city of Hamburg.

XI: JAPAN SHALL HONOR ITS WORDS ON HISTORY, TAIWAN

In the meeting, Xi said that Japan shall honor its words on issues related to history and Taiwan, and remove the distractions in bilateral relations with policies and concrete actions.

He also urged Japan to learn from history so as to ensure that bilateral relations run in the right direction and have a brighter prospect.

Xi noted that the sound neighborly relations between China and Japan concern not only the well-being of the two peoples, but also have an impact on Asia and the world at large. Xi noted that the sound neighborly relations between China and Japan concern not only the well-being of the two peoples, but also have an impact on Asia and the world at large.

China and Japan normalized their diplomatic relations 45 years ago after reaching key consensus on history, Taiwan and Diaoyu Islands, among other issues. Next year, the two nations will embrace the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

The Chinese president said the two countries shall enhance their sense of responsibility at this moment, and seize the opportunities in the new era of bilateral ties.

In spite of twists and turns, and other severe tests in the past 45 years, the development of Beijing-Tokyo relations has rendered both sides many constructive inspirations, Xi said, calling for solid efforts to boost bilateral ties in accordance with the overall strategic direction of peace, amity and cooperation.

For Japan, it shall prove its willingness for better ties with China through concrete policies and actions, he added.

Political trust is the premise of the China-Japan relations, Xi said, referring to the four political documents and the four-point agreement that serve as the guiding principles of bilateral ties on properly handling issues related to history and Taiwan, among others.

These issues, vital to the political foundation of the China-Japan ties, bear no room for compromise or regress, or the bilateral relations will veer off the right course and slow down its pace of development, he said.

The Chinese president also welcomed Japan to join in the Belt and Road pragmatic cooperation, urging wide-range exchanges between the two sides on culture, education, media, local-level and youth in a bid to garner more public support for bilateral friendship.