Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Monday with an aim to further develop the strategic mutually beneficial relationship.

The visit of Xi, who arrived in Japan earlier in the day, is the first by a Chinese state leader since the new Japanese government took office in this September.

In a written statement upon arrival, Xi said China and Japan are close neighbors, and developing China-Japan ties is in the interests of the two countries and peoples.

At present, the two countries are facing new opportunities to build up a strategic and reciprocal relationship, he said.

"I am visiting Japan to promote mutual trust, cooperation, and friendship," Xi said.

Earlier in the day, Xi and Takahiro Yokomichi, Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, attended an official launching ceremony of the Tokyo China Culture Center, a showroom which is aimed at providing information on China and hosting various cultural exchange activities.

During his stay in Tokyo, Xi will meet Emperor Akihito, hold a series of meetings with lawmakers from Japan's ruling and opposition parties as well as Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. He will also visit Fukuoka.

Japan is the first stop of Xi's four-nation Asian tour. He will also visit the Republic of Korea (ROK), Myanmar and Cambodia.

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