Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Tokyo Monday afternoon to start a three-day official visit to Japan.

This is the first visit by a Chinese state leader since the new Japanese government took office in September.

In a written statement upon arrival, Xi said China and Japan are close neighbors, and developing China-Japan ties is in the interests of the two countries and peoples.

At present, the two countries are facing new opportunities to build up a strategic and reciprocal relationship, he said.

"I am visiting Japan to promote mutual trust, cooperation, and friendship," Xi said.

During his stay in Tokyo, Xi will meet Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. He will also visit Fukuoka.

Japan is the first stop of Xi's four-nation Asian tour. He will also visit the Republic of Korea (ROK), Myanmar and Cambodia.