Japan said it expected Chinese President Hu Jintao's forthcoming visit to the country would help boost bilateral relations.

"President Hu's visit to Japan would help specify the bilateral strategic and reciprocal relationship and showcase the friendship between the two peoples", said Ibuki Bunmei, Secretary-General of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, one of the country's ruling parties.

"Japan will make thorough preparation work for President Hu's visit", Ibuki Bunmei said in his meeting with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Tuesday.

According to a press release from the department, another delegation member, Kitagawa Kazuo, secretary general of Japan's Komei Party, said that Hu's upcoming visit to Japan would have "historical significance" to the development of bilateral relations.

Echoing the views of the Japanese guests, Wang said that exchanges among the political parties between the two countries would be conducive to the growth of the bilateral relations.

The Communist Party of China is willing to join hands with the Japanese ruling parties to make efforts to maintain the current growth momentum of the bilateral relations and promote President Hu's visit to be a success, Wang said.

The Japanese delegation also met Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo on the same day. Dai applauded the overall growth momentum of the bilateral ties, calling on the two sides to seize the historic opportunity to cement cooperation and boost mutual political trust.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2008)