Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says deepening the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations is of great importance to the two countries.

Noda will pay an official visit to China from Sunday to Monday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

In a written interview with Xinhua and other Chinese news media before his visit, Noda said it would be his first trip to China after taking office and he expected to build trustworthy personal relations with Chinese leaders.

The upcoming year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations. On this occasion, Noda said, he would frankly exchange views with Chinese leaders on cooperation and exchanges, and reach important consensus with the Chinese side on deepening the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Noda said the Japan-China relationship had enjoyed rapid development since the normalization of bilateral relations, with bilateral trade increasing from 1.1 billion U.S. dollars to 300 billion dollars and people-to-people exchanges growing from 10,000 to 5.4 million.

Despite twists and turns, the two governments had made great efforts to advance the relationship based on the four political documents guiding the development of bilateral relations, Noda said.

He said the relationship was expected to enjoy greater development in the future and next year was a good opportunity to consolidate its foundation.

Enhancing political mutual trust, and promoting marine cooperation, post-quake cooperation, win-win economic cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges was of great significance, Noda said.

He said improving national feelings was important for the stable and sustainable development of Japan-China ties.

Problems were unavoidable as the two countries saw closer people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation. But, when problems emerged, the two governments should try to solve them from the perspective of minimizing the negative impacts on bilateral ties, Noda said.

In addition, promoting dialogue and exchanges would also help improve national feelings, Noda said, indicating next year's 40th anniversary was a good opportunity in this regard.

Recalling his first visit to China in 1984 as a member of a 3,000-people delegation consisting of Japanese youths, Noda said he hoped Japan and China would enhance exchanges between youths, who were the future.

Noda said Japan and China, as two major players in the world, shouldered responsibilities for global and regional peace, stability and prosperity.

The two countries could carry out constructive work in cooperating on global economic and financial issues, countering pirates and terrorism, and maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Noda said.