China and Japan should increase strategic mutual trust to
provide a firmer foundation for their relationship, said State
Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.
Tang made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing Monday with
Nikai Toshihiro, chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of Japan's
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Nikai brought a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
to Premier Wen Jiabao, but its content was not revealed.
Tang said China-Japanese relations face opportunities as well as
challenges. The two sides should objectively view and positively
treat each other's development.
He reiterated China's adherence to peaceful development, and
said that he hopes Japan will also adhere to peaceful
development.
Another important item on Nikai's agenda for his China visit is
to discuss with the Chinese side people-to-people exchange plans to
mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan
diplomatic ties.
During Nikai's meeting with China's National Tourism
Administration Director Shao Qiwei, the two countries apparently
agreed to exchange visits for more than 20,000 people.
Under the plan, Chinese groups will visit major Japanese cities,
while Japanese groups will go to Chinese cities. The visits will
commemorate the anniversary and will be separate from normal
tourism.
During the meeting, Nikai and his counterpart in the New Komeito
Party Yoshio Urushibara also conveyed to Shao Japan's plan to
increase from four to six the number of Chinese cities where
Chinese tourists can obtain visas for visits to Japan.
Nikai and his delegation are visiting China at the invitation of
the China-Japan Friendship Association. Some other senior officials
including top legislator Wu Bangguo will also meet him.
(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2007)
