Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Wu Bangguo returned to Beijing Wednesday after wrapping up a three-nation tour in Asia that took him to the Philippines, South Korea and Japan.

Both the government and the public in Japan are eager to push forward relations with China and Sino-Japanese ties are enjoying overall development in all fields, said Wu during an press interview just before leaving Japan.

"The purpose of my visit to Japan is to transmit a clear message that the new leadership of China will continue the country's policy of friendly relations with Japan," Wu said.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Friendship Agreement, Wu noted. Sino-Japanese relations are seen as entering a new stage.

China welcomes Japanese, especially youngsters, as such visits will help deepen their understanding of China, Wu said.

He referred to his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi saying they both agreed that the two nations should follow the spirit of "looking back into history and facing the future" to push forward bilateral ties smoothly, which will benefit peace and stability in Asia as well the world.

He told reporters that his visit to the three nations is an example of China's determination to maintain long-term and stable friendly cooperation with other nations. The good-neighborliness policy is a long-term not a temporary one, and China will continue to stress cooperation and seek common development, he added.

China and the Philippines agreed to strengthen and develop long-term, stable, friendly relations and cooperation, Wu said.

China and South Korea will further push forward overall cooperative relations in accord with the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

All sides involved have expressed their will to stress continuing parliamentary exchanges.

(China Daily September 11, 2003)