China and Japan agreed in a joint press communique issued in Tokyo on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in improving Japan's ties with North Korea.

The joint press communique was issued during Chinese President Hu Jintao's ongoing state visit to Japan.

In the communique, Japan expressed its readiness to solve the outstanding problems in Japan-North Korea relations, including nuclear and humanitarian issues, and settle the problems left over by history and normalize their bilateral ties in line with the Pyongyang Declaration signed with North Korea in 2002.

Both China and Japan are fully aware of the significance of making progress in Japan-North Korea ties, and China expressed its willingness to offer necessary help to this effect.

The two countries agreed to continue consultation on such issues as the reform of the United Nations following similar consultation in Beijing in April this year.

The two countries also agreed to further their coordination in the destruction of the chemical weapons which were abandoned in China by the Japanese aggressor troops at the end of World War II.

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2008)