Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Takahiro Yokomichi, speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, and Satsuki Eda, president of the House of Councilors, respectively to discuss the role of parliamentary communications.

Xi spoke positively of China-Japan relations, saying President Hu Jintao's state visit to Japan last year pushed bilateral ties to a new historical beginning.

China-Japan relations are in good shape generally, Xi said, and face fresh opportunities for development.

"A main purpose of my visit is to meet with Japanese government officials, political party personnel as well as people of other sectors to further promote understanding and cooperation," Xi said.

Xi said communications between parliaments is an important part of bilateral relations. The National People's Congress (NPC) and Japanese Diet have already established a regular exchange mechanism, which has played a positive role in boosting political mutual trust and bilateral ties.

"The friendliness and amicability between the people of the two countries are vital to a healthy bilateral ties," Xi said. "The Diet members have important influence on the public. We expect you can help to create a good public opinion environment for the development of bilateral relations."

Xi also conveyed greetings from Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC of China, to the two Japanese leaders.

The Shanghai Expo, which is to open next May, will be a good channel for friendly communications between China and the rest of the world, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Japan to make full use of the Shanghai Expo as an opportunity to push bilateral cultural exchanges for new development and promote understanding and friendship between the two countries.

Yokomichi said that after the new Japanese administration was formed in September, leaders of the two countries have met many times since to reach important consensus on advancing their strategic relationship.

Japan's House of Representatives has had close contact with China's NPC and is willing to work actively to advance their bilateral ties.

Eda said the House of Councillors values its relationship with China and has initiated an annual exchange mechanism with NPC. Strengthening inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries is quite meaningful, he said.