Chinese President Hu Jintao told former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in Beijing Wednesday that leaders of both countries should do more good things for the friendship between the people of the two countries, and never do anything bad.

Hu made the remarks during a meeting with the former Japanese prime minister, now honorary chairman of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and heads of delegations attending the12th annual session of the APPF that wrapped up here Wednesday.

Hu stressed that as a new era begins, leaders of China and Japan should push forward bilateral relations from the viewpoint of safeguarding the fundamental interest of people of the two countries and promoting regional and world peace, stability and development.

On the historical issues relating the political basis for China-Japan relations, Hu said, the two sides should keep in mind the concept of taking history as a mirror and looking into the future.

"Anything good for the friendship between our two peoples, we should do more," Hu said. "Anything not good for the friendship, we should never do."

On the relations between Japan and China, Nakasone said the majority of the Japanese nationals have friendly feelings towards China and hope Japan and China can keep a friendly relationship. He said he hopes the two sides can take the broad situation into consideration and properly handle the obstacles in bilateral relations.

On the issue of Taiwan, Nakasone said the Taiwan authorities should not seek "independence", nor should they seek entry into the United Nations. Dialogue should be restored and the "Three Direct Exchanges", namely direct exchanges of mail service, trade, air and shipping services across the Taiwan Straits, should be realized.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2004)