Li Guixian, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met Tuesday with a delegation from the Japanese Social Democratic Party led by its Vice-Leader Sadao Futigami.
Li said the friendly communication between the Chinese and Japanese parties and statesmen has played an important role in the healthy development of bilateral relations.
This year sees the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, said Li, adding that China hopes to make the 30th anniversary an opportunity to further improve communication and cooperation between the two sides.
Li hopes China and Japan will make joint efforts to push forward to a new stage their friendly and cooperative partnership which is devoted to peace and development.
Futigami extended his congratulations on the opening of the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC National Committee. He spoke highly of the achievements made by China in its economic development, stressing that they are of great importance to the development of Japan and to the prosperity of the region and the world.
He said that the Japanese Social Democratic Party will take the opportunity afforded by the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, to continue to contribute to the advancement of bilateral ties.
Futigami and his delegation are visiting China at the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2002)
