China and Japan pledged to make contributions to effectively promote exchanges between the youths of the two countries, according to a joint press communique issued in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The communique was issued on boosting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries as measures to implement a joint statement signed after talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

According to the communique issued during Hu's state visit to Japan, the two sides are satisfied with the successful inauguration of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth in 2008, and agreed to launch exchanges of about 4,000 Chinese and Japanese young people each year in the next four years.

China and Japan reached consensus on constantly promoting the friendly exchanges between the youths of the two countries and called on both sides to strengthen cooperation on the issue.

The two sides also agreed that it is of vital significance to further strengthen exchange between the young and middle-aged cadres of the two countries and they will continually support exchange and cooperation in this field, the communique said.

This year is the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth set by leaders of the two countries and marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty.

President Hu arrived here on Tuesday for a five-day "warm-spring" state visit, the first trip by a Chinese president to Japan in a decade.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)