Hu highlights upturn in Sino-Japan ties
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-17 19:15 Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday highlighted
the upturn in China-Japan relations, saying the two countries need to fulfill
their pledge to advance bilateral relations.
Hu made the remarks in a meeting with Japan's House of Councilors President
Chikage Ogi, who is paying a three-day visit to Beijing.
Ogi's visit comes a week after Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the
first Japanese leader to visit China in five years, held talks with Chinese
leaders in Beijing, a visit President Hu described as a "turning point" in
diplomatic relations.
China and Japan reached a consensus on overcoming the political obstacles
affecting bilateral relations and promoting development of friendly cooperation,
said Hu.
"Under joint efforts from China and Japan, Abe made his first visit to China
a success and refreshed relations between the two countries," Hu told Ogi.
"China will work with Japan to implement the important consensus reached by
the two sides and push forward China-Japan relations in a stable and healthy
manner," Hu added.
Ogi and China's top legislator Wu Bangguo signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on Monday, officially launching a regular exchange mechanism
between the two top legislative bodies.
Hu said the parliamentary exchanges were an important part of China-Japan
friendly cooperation and would offer a new platform for exchanges between the
legislatures.
The Chinese government supports exchanges and cooperation between the NPC and
Japan's House of Councilors, said Hu.
Japan highly values relations with China, said Ogi, the first female upper
house president in Japanese history, adding Japan-China friendship will not only
benefit the two nations, but also contribute to peace and stability in Asia and
the world.
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