China, Japan pledge to enhance party-to-party ties

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) held their fourth regular meeting under their exchange mechanism on Saturday, pledging to boost relations between both countries.

Azuma Koshiishi, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), headed the Japanese delegation to the meeting.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Koshiishi made keynote speeches at the meeting.

Wang said China-Japan relations have undergone an extraordinary course over the last 40 years, noting the relationship between the two countries is at a new starting point and China is confident about the continuing and sound development of bilateral relations.

"The CPC is willing to communicate with the DPJ and expand personnel exchanges and people-to-people communication in order to create a better future for bilateral relations," Wang said.

Koshiishi said Japan and China need to overcome their differences and safeguard the status of bilateral ties. He said the DPJ is ready to work with the CPC to make progress in advancing Japan-China relations.

A regular exchange mechanism between the CPC and the DPJ was established in July 2006 for the purpose of advancing party-to-party and bilateral relations.