China and Japan are facing "important opportunities" for
developing bilateral relations, Chinese Top Legislator Wu Bangguo said in Beijing on Monday,
calling on the Asia neighbors to increase both political trust and
promote healthy ties.
Wu spoke out during his meeting with Nikai Toshihiro, chairman
of the Diet Affairs Committee of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP).
2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of
China-Japan relations. Wu said the two countries should seize the
day to further enhance political trust and implement the consensus
reached by the two heads of states, according to the spirit of the
three China-Japan political documents.
He further urged cooperation in the fields of energy,
environmental protection and technology, and increase personnel
exchanges, especially between young people.
Nikai pledged to wield his personal influence to promote
Japan-China friendship, and to cement bilateral non-governmental
exchanges.
Earlier in the morning, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan also met with Nikai. Tang said the
two countries should increase strategic mutual trust, viewing it as
an important precondition for building a reciprocal strategic
relationship.
Nikai brought a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, but no details on its content were
revealed.
An important aspect of Nikai's current China trip is the
discussion of people-to-people exchanges to mark the 35th
anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic
ties.
(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2007)