Chinese President Jiang Zemin met here Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who attended the just-concluded Ninth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting.
The Japanese prime minister spoke highly of the success of the APEC meeting, saying that the art performance and fireworks display were also excellent.
The success of the meeting is all the more impressive given the September 11 Incident, and it fully demonstrates China's political stability and economic progress, Koizumi said.
Jiang thanked Koizumi for his positive comments, and expressed the hope that future APEC meetings would be even more successful.
Koizumi said next year marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and both Japan and China will hold a series of commemorative activities. The Japanese side hopes to take this opportunity to expand friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all areas and at all levels.
Jiang said the anniversary merits commemoration by both countries and expressed his belief that the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and Japanese peoples will further develop.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the fight against terrorism and other issues of common concern.
(Xinhua News Agency October 21,2001)
