Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing on Tuesday with a delegation from the Japanese Social Democratic Party, headed by party leader Takako Doi.
The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and the international situation. Tang praised the Japanese delegation's visit during China's fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The visit demonstrated the importance attached by the Japanese Social Democratic Party to relations between the two parties and two countries, said Tang.
China would not forget old friends and would be a permanent friend of Japan, he said. Tang said China would work with the Japanese Social Democratic Party to promote the relationship under all circumstances.
Takako Doi expressed sympathy over the losses and pains suffered by the Chinese people during the SARS epidemic. She said the Japanese Social Democratic Party would continue to contribute to the cooperative relationship between the two countries.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)
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