Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan met Tuesday with members of the fifth 21st Century Committee for Japan- China Friendship on bilateral relations.

During their talks at the prime minister's residence, Tang Jiaxuan and Taizo Nishimuro, Chinese and Japanese chairs of the friendship body, briefed Kan on the second session of the committee, starting Sunday through Monday.

Tang said that members from both sides conducted candid and in- depth discussion on the theme of "how to improve and advance China- Japan relations."

And they are of one mind that based on the principles and spirit of the four political documents, it is in the fundamental interests of both peoples as well as conducive to regional peace and stability to promote the stable development of bilateral ties and substantialize the content of their strategic and mutually beneficial relations, said Tang.

The two sides need to properly handle politically sensitive issues between the two nations and get bilateral relations back on track for sound and stable development, he added.

Kan, for his part, lauded what has been achieved at the second session of the committee as well as the efforts members of both sides have made to that end.

He voiced his willingness to work with the Chinese side in a bid to continuously advance Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations.