China hopes to promote friendship and common development with Japan, with the two sides living in peaceful coexistence and mutual-beneficial cooperation, said State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan Sunday. 

During a meeting with Masahiko Komura, president of the Association of Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship from Japan, Tang said the Chinese government and people always are devoted to boosting friendship with Japan.

The Association of Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship, as the most influential organization to promote Japan-China friendship, has its special advantage in safeguarding political basis for Sino-Japanese good-neighborly friendship, in enhancing civilian exchanges, and in increasing understanding between the two peoples, Tang said, hoping that to this end, Komura and his association would continue to play an important role.

Komura said Japan-China relations are very important, expressing anxiety over the current difficult situation of Japan-China relations.

The Japanese side is ready to seriously take account of views of the Chinese side, to join efforts with China to properly solve the problems emerging in the process of developing Japan-China relations, and to improve and promote the Japan-China relations, Komura said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2005)