Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Great Hall of the People on October 8, 2006.

"Your ongoing visit is serving as a turning point in China-Japan relations and I hope it will also serve as a new starting point for the improvement and development of bilateral ties," said Hu, congratulating Abe on taking office as prime minister.

Hu spoke highly of Abe selecting China as the destination of his first official overseas trip, saying it indicated that Abe had attached great importance to the improvement and development of the relations between the two neighbors.

President Hu recalled the development process of China-Japan relations and spoke highly of the achievement in the development of bilateral relations made since the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. At the same time, Hu pointed out that entering the new century, China-Japan relations faced difficulties because an individual Japanese leader kept visiting to the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japanese class-A war criminals in World War II are honored among the country's war dead. "This is not what we are willing to see," added Hu.

"Since Abe took office, China and Japan have reached consensus on overcoming political obstacles affecting bilateral ties and promoting Sino-Japanese relations, which creates conditions for the improvement and development of bilateral relations,"
Hu added.

Hu said that China-Japan friendly cooperation was not only concerned with the interests of the two countries, but also with peace, stability, development and prosperity of Asia and the world at large. He urged Japan to have a correct recognition and proper treatment of the history issue, and avoid hurting the feelings of the people of victimized countries. "Japan should hold firm its one-China policy and handle the Taiwan issue appropriately, so as to constantly consolidate the political basis for bilateral relations," Hu added.

The Chinese President also suggested the two countries expand exchanges in trade, investment and technology, and increase cooperation in energy, environmental protection, information technology and financial sectors.

President Hu proposed to expand exchange and cooperation between the governments, political parties, social organizations, cultural and youth groups of the two countries. He advocated stronger coordination and communications on regional and international issues. "China hopes Japan will continue to move ahead as a peace-loving country and play a constructive role in regional and international affairs," Hu noted.

Hu expressed that it is a common desire of the two peoples to have friendly ties for generations. "China is willing to make unremitting efforts, together with Japan, to jointly create a bright future for Sino-Japan relations in the new century," he said.

In reply, Abe, who took office on September 26, said he paid great attention to bilateral ties, and to push bilateral relations to a new high and create a bright future for the two peoples is important to the two countries and the region. "It is also the common responsibility of the two sides," Abe added.

Abe said the Japanese side attached much importance to Hu's guideline on promoting bilateral ties. Japan would make contributions from a strategic perspective to the improvement and development of bilateral ties in the spirit of the three-bilateral political documents. Abe noted that Japan imposed great damages and sufferings on the Asian people in the past, and it was Japan's fixed policy to stick to a peaceful development path on the basis of their historical past.

"This policy will not change," said Abe, adding that the Japanese side and he himself would properly handle the history issue in accordance with the consensus on overcoming the political obstacle affecting bilateral relations and promoting the sound and steady growth of bilateral ties. Abe noted that the two economies were interdependent and China's rapid economic development had helped Japan's economic recovery and growth. Bilateral cooperation in other fields had continuously moved forward. He hoped that the two sides would promote contacts at various levels, enhance mutual trust, expand exchanges in economy, culture, education and personnel, and strengthen communication and cooperation in regional and international affairs, so as to push bilateral relations to higher levels.

Abe reiterated that Japan would, in accordance with the joint statement, adhere to a one-China policy, and not support "two Chinas,""one China, one Taiwan" and "Taiwan independence." It opposes any unilateral change of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.