Chinese leaders hold "heart-to-heart" talks with Japanese prime minister

Wen proposed the two countries should maintain momentum through mutual visits and meetings at various multilateral occasions by the two state leaders and conduct high-level coordination on issues of common concern to achieve enhanced political mutual trust.

He also suggested the two nations should cooperate in such key areas as energy, environment, finance, high-tech, telecom and intellectual property protection to boost the quality and efficiency of China-Japan economic and trade cooperation.

The two countries should further conduct personnel exchanges to strengthen China-Japan friendship, Wen said.

Fukuda's visit, three months after he took office, was the first to China by a Japanese prime minister since Shinzo Abe visited Beijing last October.

It was the third overseas trip of Fukuda's premiership after visits to the United States and Singapore.

Next year, the two countries would mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Meanwhile, youth exchange programs would be further promoted as the two countries observed the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth in 2008.

As China would also host the Olympics next year, Fukuda said Japan would "vigorously support" China and "sincerely look forward to" the success of the Games. Wen also expressed a warm welcome for Japan to take part in the Olympiad.

"To maintain and strengthen the China-Japan friendly ties is the only correct choice of the two countries," Wen said. "It is inline with the fundamental interests of their two peoples and is conducive to the peace and development of northeastern Asia, and the continent as a whole."

The premier said the two nations would strengthen defense exchanges and security dialogues, and schedule "in good time" a China visit by Japan's defense minister and the maritime self-defense force.

He said China and Japan should "properly and cautiously" handle historical and Taiwan issues to safeguard the political basis of the bilateral relations.