Senior Japanese LDP Officials Visit Beijing -- china.org.cn

A delegation from Japan's ruling parties arrived in Beijing Thursday evening to help prepare the ground ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's state visit to Japan in April.

The delegation is led by Hidenao Nakagawa, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Kazuo Kitagawa, secretary-general of New Komeito, LDP's ruling coalition partner.

Sources within the CPC Central Committee's International Department announced that President Hu Jintao should meet with the Japanese guests during their stay.

The delegation will deliver a speech at the CPC Central Committee's Party School before attending a seminar at the People's University in Beijing.

Wen will visit Japan in mid-April, the fist such visit by a Chinese premier since 2000.

The delegation were briefed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prior to their departure and were informed of Abe's hopes that their visit would foster favorable conditions for Wen's upcoming visit to Japan. He further trusted a letter for President Hu to their keeping.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2007)