The sensitive history and Taiwan issues should be handled properly to improve China-Japan ties, said Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo on Tuesday.

 

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks while meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Yohei Kono.

 

He said China will make joint efforts with Japan to seize the opportunity to carry out the important agreement between the leaders of the two countries.

 

"The major sensitive issues of history and Taiwan should be handled properly to consolidate the political foundation of China-Japan relations and add momentum to the healthy development of bilateral ties," he said.

 

Wu said that he hopes Kono, also chairman of the Japan association for the promotion of international trade, will play his due role in deepening friendship and enhancing pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

 

The improvement of China-Japan relations not only complies with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but also benefits peace, stability and development of Asia and the world, Wu said.

 

Wu and Kono pledged to make full use of the regular exchange mechanism between the parliaments to facilitate nation-to-nation relations.

 

China-Japan relations were at the lowest point over the past five years because of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals during the World War II.

 

Koizumi's successor Shinzo Abe paid an "ice-breaking" visit to China in October. The leaders of the two countries agreed to construct the strategic relationship.

 

Later, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Shinzo Abe met again on the sideline of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi of Vietnam in November.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2006)