China, Japan hold 5th parliamentary exchange
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Chinese and Japanese legislators Tuesday held their fifth regular meeting in Beijing with a pledge to properly deal with "related issues" for the healthy and stable development of ties.
Hua Jianmin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), and Takeaki Matsumoto, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of Japan's House of Representatives, co-chaired the one-day meeting.
"Facts have proved that regular exchange mechanism is an important way to deepen bilateral legislative cooperation," top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo told Japanese legislators after the meeting Tuesday afternoon.
"Hopefully, both sides will make best of this platform, exchange views on issues of common concern, increase understanding, reduce differences and expand common ground in a bid to flesh out the Japan-China strategic relationship of mutual benefit," Wu said.
Matsumoto echoed Wu's proposal, saying Japan would like to work with China to bring the exchange mechanism into a better play.
Wu reviewed the broader China-Japan ties, saying the relations have taken on a good momentum of growth since the new Japanese cabinet took office in September.
He called for stronger cooperation in all fields, proper handling of related issues and mew progress of bilateral relations.
Matsumoto said it was the consensus of Japanese ruling and opposition parties to develop ties with China.
Matsumoto said his delegation was made up of legislators from various parties, who would like to work for Japan-China friendship.
During their meeting, Chinese and Japanese legislators agreed to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries and enhance cooperation, said a statement from the NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislature.
Hua urged the two countries to develop trade cooperation while Matsumoto vowed to step up cooperation with China on energy conservation, environmental protection and climate change.
They also reiterated the importance of the regular parliamentary exchanges, and agreed to hold the sixth meeting in Japan next year.
The NPC and Japan's House of Representatives established their regular exchange mechanism in 2004 and held the first meeting in 2005.
The NPC also inaugurated a regular exchange mechanism with Japan's House of Councilors, the upper house, in 2007.
The parliamentary exchange coincided with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Japan, the first by a Chinese state leader since the new Japanese government took office in September.
Xi met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Monday in Tokyo. Xi will also 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.
China and Japan have conducted increasing high-level exchanges, which analysts say demonstrate the common aspiration for closer ties.
Last week, Secretary General of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Ichiro Ozawa, visited China with a 600-strong delegation. The group was the first DPJ-led delegation to China since the DPJ came to power.
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