Chinese president meets former Japanese PMs, attends youth exchange year inauguration

Source: Xinhua | 05-09-2008 09:14

TOKYO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Thursday with four former Japanese prime ministers and attended the inauguration of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth in 2008.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C), Japanese Prime Minister  Yasuo Fukuda (1st R) and Former Japanese Prime Minister  Yasuhiro Nakasone attend the opening ceremony of the 2008  Japan-China youth friendly exchange year at the Waseda  University in Tokyo, capital of Japan, May 8, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo)

While having breakfast with Yasuhiro Nakasone, Toshiki Kaifu, Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe, Hu said the China-Japan relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations for both countries.

In the changing world, China and Japan are facing more common issues and responsibilities, and are sharing more common interests and larger room for development, Hu said. The China-Japan relations have exceeded the bilateral domain and are exerting stronger regional and global influence.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) plays tabel tennis with Japanese Ai Fukuhara (L) at the Waseda University in Tokyo, capital of  Japan, May 8, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

"The situation requests the two sides to earnestly think about and map out the future of the China-Japan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective," Hu said.

Nakasone voiced his belief that the two countries' fourth political document signed Wednesday -- the China-Japan joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations -- will lead the bilateral relations to a better future.

Kaifu stressed the importance of candid exchange of views when dealing with problems between the two countries. He called on the two sides to strengthen communication in all fields, especially between young people.

Mori expressed his views on the development of Africa and hoped that China and Japan will enhance cooperation to make joint contribution to peace and development of the continent.

Abe said that the exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries is of great importance to the improvement and advancement of bilateral ties and is conducive to the promotion of bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (front 2nd R), Japanese Prime  Minister Yasuo Fukuda (front 2nd L), Chinese table tennis  player Wang Nan (R) and Japanese table tennis player Ai  Fukuhara (L) pose for photos during the opening ceremony  of the 2008 Japan-China youth friendly exchange year at  the Waseda University in Tokyo, capital of Japan, May 8, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo)