Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Saturday pledged to
further personnel and youth exchanges with Japan to increase mutual
understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
Tang made the remarks while meeting with Koki Chuma, Japan's
state minister in charge of administrative reform.
Tang expressed his appreciation for the "positive efforts" Chuma
has made for promoting China-Japan cooperation in such areas as
environmental protection, tourism, technology and trade.
Chuma said that Japan and China should enhance exchanges through
various channels to improve bilateral relations.
Chuma visited China as guest of the Chinese People's Association
for Friendship with Foreign Countries and?concluded his tour
Saturday.
Sino-Japanese relations have been soured by Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni
Shrine, where Japan's war dead, including 14 convicted class A war
criminals in World War II, are honored.
(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2006)