The Chinese government on Wednesday pledged to cement friendly
relations with Japan.
"This benefits the two peoples, and is conducive to peace and
stability in Asia and the world," said Vice President Zeng
Qinghong.
When meeting with a delegation from the Japan-China Friendship
Association, Zeng said the Chinese government attaches importance
to relations with Japan, and would like to further the
good-neighborly relations by learning from history and looking to
the future.
Zeng expressed appreciation for the contribution of the
Japan-China Friendship Association to promote Sino-Japanese
relations.
He hailed the visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe in early October, saying it "created conditions for the
improvement of Sino-Japanese relations."
Zeng said that China and Japan were important neighbors and
bilateral ties had progressed since the two countries normalized
diplomatic ties in 1972.
Hiromu Nonaka, honorary advisor of the Japan-China Friendship
Association, said Japan-China relations had endured an ongoing
"winter season" for the past five years, and Abe's visit had set a
foundation for the improvement of bilateral ties.
Ikuo Hirayama, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship
Association, vowed to promote cooperation between Japan and
China.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)
