Hidenao Nakagawa, Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said Wednesday that Japan hopes the upcoming summits with China and South Korea be fruitful.

Nakagawa made the comments at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, according to Kyodo News.

The Chinese leaders attach much importance to relations with Japan as the summit with the new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to be held in China while the Sixth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is being convened, he said.

New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota also told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes that the bilateral ties between Japan and China, as well as those between Japan and South Korea can be significantly improved through fruitful dialogues.

Former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said China and South Korea are also actively seeking to improve ties with Japan, adding that he believes the upcoming summits would be successful and hopes that regular summits can be held between leaders of the three countries.

Abe will pay an official visit to China on Oct. 8-9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2006)