Chinese President Hu Jintao(R) meets
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) at
the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, capital of China,
Dec. 7, 2007. (Xinhua Photo)
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday called for the expansion
and deepening of cooperation with Japan and boosting of bilateral
relations to a new level.
"The two sides should maintain friendly exchange at various
levels, expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation, settle well
bilateral disputes through dialogue and equal consultation and
continue to expand the mutual benefit between the two nations in an
effort to boost bilateral relations to a new level", Hu said.
Hu made his remarks in his meeting with Ichiro Ozawa, president
of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) at the Great Hall of the
People in downtown Beijing.
He highlighted the recent growth momentum of bilateral
relations, saying that the development of bilateral relations
yielding from the joint efforts from the two sides was of great
value.
Hu added that the next year is the 30th anniversary of the
signing of the peace and friendship agreement between China and
Japan, which is a highly important year for the development of the
bilateral relations.
Ozawa, who heads a 450-member Japanese delegation, said that
Japanese people highly appreciate China's commitment to the
Japan-China relations, expressing his hope to seize the opportunity
to boost mutual understanding and trust between the two
peoples.
The booming of a strong relationship between Japan and China not
only serves the two nations, but is also vital to the stability and
prosperity of Asia and the world at large, Ozawa told Hu.
Prior to his meeting with Hu, Ozawa also met Wang Jiarui, head
of the International Department of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee.
The delegation of DPJ and the 15th "Great Wall" programme
comprises 47 Japanese DPJ Dietmen and representatives from various
circles of Japanese society.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata is also with the
delegation.
During their stay in Beijing, President Hu will meet with the
delegation. DPJ Dietmen will also attend a meeting of a regular
exchange mechanism between DPJ and CPC.
Initiated in 1989, the "Great Wall" Program, a people-to-people
exchange scheme, has been participated by more than 200 Japanese
Dietmen and 2,000 Japanese people from various social circles
through visits to China.
(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2007)
