Chinese President Hu Jintao met on Thursday with Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda respectively.

During the meetings, Hu pointed out that the Chinese and the Japanese people have conducted friendly communication in the past 2,000 years and formed the tradition of Sino-Japanese friendship, which is a common treasure for both sides.

"Since the normalization of the China-Japan relations in 1972, the full development of the bilateral ties has brought about concrete and significant benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, and has contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, winning universal welcome of the international community," Hu said.

"The development of the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and in the world," Hu added.

Hu called on both sides to make joint efforts to push forward the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations by enhancing strategic mutual trusts, deepening reciprocal cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges, advancing Asia's boom and tackling global challenges.

Kono, for his part, wished Hu a successful visit, the first by a Chinese head of state in a decade.

Kono said the Japan-China joint statement signed on Wednesday had abundant contents and clarified the future direction of the bilateral relations.

"Japan and China need to respect each other, especially as they are close neighbors. The two sides should join hands to make contributions to peace and development of their own as well as Asia and even the whole world," Kono said.

Eda hailed Hu's Japan trip as bearing great significance for building up the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations. He wished that Hu's visit to Japan would achieve positive fruits.

Hu stressed that the regular communication mechanism built up between the Chinese National People's Congress and the Japanese Diet (parliament) has played a positive role in strengthening bilateral political communication and advancing the improvement and development of the China-Japan relations.

He called on both sides to further communication through the platform and continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship among politicians, especially young politicians, so as to contribute more to a long-term healthy and stable development of the China-Japan relations.

With regard to the Beijing Olympics, Hu said the games not only belong to the Chinese people but also to the people in Asia and the world as a whole.

"The Chinese government and the Chinese people will faithfully fulfill their commitments to the international community and will work together with the broad international Olympic family to make the Beijing Olympics a sports event of unique characteristics and of high quality," Hu said.

Kono and Eda both expressed their sincere wishes to the Beijing Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2008)