Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met on Friday with a Japanese trans-party delegation led by Congressman Suzuki Tuneo, urging the two countries to promote bilateral ties following Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China last month.

Tang emphasized that China-Japan relations are "developing", noting that the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting in Vietnam had generated consensus on improving bilateral relations and building a mutually beneficial framework for the strategic relationship.

The two sides should make concerted efforts to fortify the political and economic foundation of bilateral relations and foster understanding between the two peoples, Tang said.

The Japanese side should also address sensitive historical issues and Japan-Taiwan relations in order to foster bilateral relations, Tang added.

China is developing in a peaceful, cooperative and open manner, and the Chinese government will pursue friendly relations with Japan and is willing to work with Japan for the common development and prosperity of Asia, Tang stressed.

Suzuki acknowledged the improvement in bilateral relations following Abe's visit to China, pledging that the Japanese side would face history in a correct manner and further expand bilateral exchanges in order to promote friendship with China, as well as the peace and stability of the world.

The 15-member delegation of Japanese congressmen is visiting China from November 22 to 27 at the invitation of the Chinese Association for International Understanding.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2006)