Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes
hands with visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan during
their meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on February 21, 2008. Tang Jiaxuan
arrived in Tokyo late Wednesday for a four-day visit at the
invitation of the Japanese government.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with visiting Chinese
State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan on Thursday at his official residence.
Tang recalled the wide range of agreements reached between
Chinese leaders and Fukuda regarding the development of
Sino-Japanese mutual beneficial ties based on common strategic
interests during his visit to China at the end of last year.
Tang said China is willing to work with Japan to carefully
implement the agreements reached, and to strengthen exchanges,
promote mutual trust, expand cooperation, and properly deal with
sensitive issues to push the Sino-Japanese relationship onto a new
stage.
Tang said the Sino-Japanese relationship is standing at a new
historic threshold and is facing new opportunities.
President Hu's upcoming state visit to Japan scheduled for
spring bears great and far-reaching significance in pushing forward
the continuous development of the Sino-Japanese ties, Tang
said.
Year 2008 will inject new vigor into the bilateral relationship
as it is the Sino-Japanese Youths Friendly Exchange Year and the
Beijing Olympics year, the state councilor said.
Fukuda in his part said the Japanese government and the Japanese
people are expecting and will warmly welcome President Hu's Japan
visit, and would like to make joint efforts with the Chinese side
to ensure the success of the visit and to add new power to the
development of the Japan-China relations.
Fukuda and Tang also agreed to strengthen cooperation on food
safety and jointly preserve the general improvement and development
of the Sino-Japanese ties.
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)
