The current Sino-Japanese relations had developed smoothly and cooperation in all fields has made steady progress, said a senior official with the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The improvement of Sino-Japanese relations not only accords with the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also benefits the peace, stability and development of Asia and the world as a whole, said Xi Jinping, a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, in a meeting with a delegation from the two ruling coalition parties of Japan on Thursday.

The delegation was headed by Sadakazu Tanigaki, policy research council chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Tetsuo Saito, chairman of the policy research council of the New Komeito.

Xi said China had long been valuing the relation with Japan, and hoped the two sides would take current good opportunity to further cooperation in the political, economic and trade and cultural fields.

The delegation came to Beijing to attend the third meeting between China and Japan on the ruling parties exchange mechanism.

"The mechanism played an important role in improving Sino-Japanese relations in the difficult period of bilateral relations and is becoming an effective platform in enhancing political mutual trust," Xi said.

Sadakazu Tanigaki said Japan would make all its effort to build the strategic and reciprocal relations with China.

Tetsuo Saito said the parties exchanges mechanism is important and Japan hopes it would contribute to the development of strategic and reciprocal relations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)