The third New Century China-Japan Symposium on Asian Situation and Peace opened in Beijing on Thursday.

 

Ten Japanese former or current Diet members as well as experts and officials from the Chinese side attended the two-day symposium on Sino-Japanese relations and the Asian situation.

 

The symposium was jointly launched by former leaders of the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) Li Yimang and Zhang Xiangshan, and Utsunomiya Tokuma, former president of the Japan-China Friendship Association.

 

The first and second symposia were held in Beijing in 2002 and Tokyo in2004.

 

Li Guixian, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body, met Thursday afternoon with a trans-party delegation of Japanese congressmen, who are here for the symposium.

 

The 15-member delegation led by Congressman Suzuki Tuneo is visiting China from November 22 to 27 at the invitation of the CAFIU.

 

Li, who is also CAFIU president, said he hopes the symposium will help implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and promote Sino-Japanese relations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2006)