China and Japan should increase strategic mutual trust to provide a firmer foundation for their relationship, said State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

 

Tang made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing Monday with Nikai Toshihiro, chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

 

Nikai brought a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Premier Wen Jiabao, but its content was not revealed.

 

Tang said China-Japanese relations face opportunities as well as challenges. The two sides should objectively view and positively treat each other's development.

 

He reiterated China's adherence to peaceful development, and said that he hopes Japan will also adhere to peaceful development.

 

Another important item on Nikai's agenda for his China visit is to discuss with the Chinese side people-to-people exchange plans to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties.

 

During Nikai's meeting with China's National Tourism Administration Director Shao Qiwei, the two countries apparently agreed to exchange visits for more than 20,000 people.

 

Under the plan, Chinese groups will visit major Japanese cities, while Japanese groups will go to Chinese cities. The visits will commemorate the anniversary and will be separate from normal tourism.

 

During the meeting, Nikai and his counterpart in the New Komeito Party Yoshio Urushibara also conveyed to Shao Japan's plan to increase from four to six the number of Chinese cities where Chinese tourists can obtain visas for visits to Japan.

 

Nikai and his delegation are visiting China at the invitation of the China-Japan Friendship Association. Some other senior officials including top legislator Wu Bangguo will also meet him.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2007)