Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for furthering contacts between Chinese and Japanese peoples so to bolster bilateral relations.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with former Japanese prime minister Hatoyama Yukio who is on a non-governmental exchange program in Beijing, capital of China, May 5, 2011. [Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]

Xi made the appeal during a meeting with Hatoyama Yukio, former Japanese prime minister who is in Beijing on a non-governmental exchange program.

"Such contacts will not only help inspire friendly sentiments between the two peoples, but also enrich the China-Japan strategic partnership of mutual benefits," Xi told Hatoyama Yukio at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing.

China views its ties with Japan as "an important part of its overall foreign strategy," Xi said, pledging that China will work with Japan to push forward bilateral relations.

"To do so, we need to firmly steer in the right direction to develop the bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, further political mutual trust, enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields," he said.

"We also need to properly handle sensitive questions between our two countries, and make unceasing efforts to strengthen strategic mutual trust and expand common interests," he said.

Hatoyama Yukio thanked the Chinese government and people for their assistance in the wake of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

He urged the two nations to face and treat history in the right way, develop a spirit of friendship and strive to seek common ground while reserving differences on the basis of enhanced cooperation so to further bilateral ties.