Japan is ready to work with China to further substantialize the content of their bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said in a written interview with Xinhua on Thursday.

"I will listen to the voices uttered by many Japanese people who sincerely hope for better Japan-China ties and continue pushing forward Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations," Hatoyama said.

The prime minister spoke on the eve of his upcoming visit to China on Saturday to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at a tripartite summit in Beijing.

China and Japan should enhance their cooperation and implement the responsibility of safeguarding the peace and stability of Asia and the whole international community, said Hatoyama, who was to embark Friday on his first visit to China as premier.

"I think it is important to develop Japan-China relations in a spirit of friendship and goodwill," he said.

It is also of vital importance that the two nations adopt a stance of "mutual respect and admit differences" while promoting cooperation in various areas, he added. "Only in so doing could bilateral ties be elevated to a new height."

Referring to the upcoming tripartite summit in Beijing, Hatoyama said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the informal summit of China, Japan and South Korea. The gathering has been held annually since 1999, with a separate meeting coming at last December's gathering in Fukuoka.

"The tripartite meeting in Fukuoka last year, which was on the sidelines of the ASEAN+3 meeting, was of epoch-making significance," the prime minister said.

Based on the above results, Hatoyama said he will set future-oriented cooperation between the three nations as an objective and discuss concrete cooperative areas, such as the environment and climate change, and trade and investment, with the Chinese and South Korean leaders.

It is important for the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea to exchange views on regional and international situations frankly, he said, noting that the three countries account for 16 percent of the world's gross domestic product.

"I look forward to talking with Chinese and South Korean leaders over issues concerning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation," he added.

The prime minister also extended his congratulations on the 60th anniversary of New China and positively evaluated China's development during the past 60 years.

"China has attained eye-catching development during the past 60 years, especially since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy, which has provided enormous opportunities for the rest of the world, including Japan," Hatoyama said.

Hatoyama, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was elected as Japan's 93rd prime minister in September following his party's landslide victory in the Aug. 30 general election.