Visiting Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met yesterday with secretary-generals of Japan's ruling coalition parties and leaders of seven friendly organizations.

During meetings with Hidenao Nakagawa, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Kazuo Kitagawa, secretary-general of the ruling coalition partner New Komeito, as well as leaders of the friendly organizations, Li said it is through efforts from both sides that bilateral relations have started improving, according to diplomatic sources.

Li noted Premier Wen Jiabao will pay an official visit to Japan in April, which will be significant in pushing the bilateral ties toward healthy and stable development, adding that Beijing will work with Tokyo to ensure the success of the upcoming visit.

At the meetings, Li also expressed the hope that Japan's ruling coalition and friendly organizations will play an active part in the development of Sino-Japanese relations in the new era.

Nakagawa, Kitagawa and the leaders of the friendly organizations said that they attach great importance to Premier Wen's forthcoming visit and are ready to make efforts to ensure its success.

The Japanese side also agreed that they will enhance exchanges and cooperation in various areas and handle the sensitive issues on the basis of the important agreements made between leaders of both countries, so as to promote further development of Japan-China relations.

The seven friendly organizations are the Japanese Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Association of Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship, the Japan-China Friendship Association, the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association, the Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade, the Japan-China Society and Japan-China Friendship Center.

At Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso's invitation, Li arrived at Tokyo on Thursday morning to start his visit in Japan. He paid visits to House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, and New Komeito President Akihiro Ota on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)