Visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Li Peng told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that strengthening cooperation is in the fundamental interests of both countries and will contribute to Asia's prosperity.

China has always followed an independent foreign policy of peace and has attached great importance to its cooperative ties with Japan, Li said.

Some Japanese people worry that their own economy will remain sluggish as a result of China's rapid economic growth.

But, according to an NPC spokesman, Koizumi said that the two economies complement each other and that no threat is posed when one outshines the other.

He said the two countries should enhance cooperation on higher levels and in wider scopes for common development now that China has entered the World Trade Organization.

Further development of Sino-Japanese ties will positively influence the economic development in Asia and the world, Koizumi was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Li and Koizumi attended the opening ceremony of a cultural exchange program marking the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties.

The program aims to increase mutual understanding between the two peoples -- an important element in the development of bilateral ties.

Li said during Thursday's meeting that he is optimistic about the future of Sino-Japanese ties.

Koizumi echoed his comments.

The Chinese top legislator, in Japan for an eight-day visit, had a busy day on Thursday, meeting the heads of major parties in Japan and former senior officials who have contributed to the development of Sino-Japanese relations.

Li urged the major parties in Japan -- the Democratic Party of Japan, the New Komeito Party of Japan and the New Conservative Party -- to continue working to improve bilateral ties, particularly by enhancing exchanges between the young generations of the two countries.

(China Daily April 5, 2002)