Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded a five-day historic state visit to Japan, known as a "warm-spring" tour, and left Osaka for home Saturday.

During the visit, President Hu met with Japan's Emperor Akihito and held talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on China-Japan relations and other issues of common concern.

After their talks, Hu and Fukuda signed a joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan.

The two sides agreed that the Sino-Japanese relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties for both countries, and China and Japan have great influence and shoulder solemn responsibilities for peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

The joint statement formulates the guiding principles for long-term development of bilateral relations and maps out the future for China-Japan relations.

Hu also had broad contacts with leaders of Japan's parliament and political parties and people from all walks of life in Japan. He delivered an important speech at Waseda University Thursday.

During his visit, Hu also traveled to Osaka and other places in the Kansai area, which includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga.

The Chinese president arrived in Tokyo Tuesday for the state visit to Japan, which was aimed at boosting strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two Asian nations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2008)