Visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met yesterday with
secretary-generals of Japan's ruling coalition parties and leaders
of seven friendly organizations.
During meetings with Hidenao Nakagawa, secretary-general of the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Kazuo Kitagawa,
secretary-general of the ruling coalition partner New Komeito, as
well as leaders of the friendly organizations, Li said it is
through efforts from both sides that bilateral relations have
started improving, according to diplomatic sources.
Li noted Premier Wen Jiabao will pay an official visit to Japan
in April, which will be significant in pushing the bilateral ties
toward healthy and stable development, adding that Beijing will
work with Tokyo to ensure the success of the upcoming visit.
At the meetings, Li also expressed the hope that Japan's ruling
coalition and friendly organizations will play an active part in
the development of Sino-Japanese relations in the new era.
Nakagawa, Kitagawa and the leaders of the friendly organizations
said that they attach great importance to Premier Wen's forthcoming
visit and are ready to make efforts to ensure its success.
The Japanese side also agreed that they will enhance exchanges
and cooperation in various areas and handle the sensitive issues on
the basis of the important agreements made between leaders of both
countries, so as to promote further development of Japan-China
relations.
The seven friendly organizations are the Japanese Council for
the Promotion of International Trade, the Association of Dietmen
League for Japan-China Friendship, the Japan-China Friendship
Association, the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association, the
Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade, the Japan-China
Society and Japan-China Friendship Center.
At Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso's invitation, Li arrived
at Tokyo on Thursday morning to start his visit in Japan. He paid
visits to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, and New Komeito President
Akihiro Ota on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)
