Top Chinese lawmaker Wu Bangguo told a group of Japanese Diet members in Beijing Wednesday that the friendship and common development of China and Japan was the key to the peace and stability of the region and the world.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remark when meeting with a delegation from the Japanese Association of the Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship, headed by Yoshiro Hayashi, president of the association.

Wu said that China attached great importance to relations with Japan, noting that both sides should learn from history, face up to the future, adhere to the principles enshrined in the Sino-Japanese joint statement, the treaty of peace and friendship and the joint declaration, for the expansion and deepening of cooperation in all fields.

Wu spoke highly of the association's vital contributions to the development of bilateral relations and expressed the desire to enhance contacts between the NPC and the Japanese Diet.

Yoshiro Hayashi said that his association had been devoted to the development of relations with China since its foundation.

"The fact that more than 400 of the 700 Japanese Dietmen are members of our association indicates that all the political parties and people from all walks of life in Japan are in favor of Japan's friendly relations with China," he said.

The Japanese Diet and his association "are anticipating Wu's visit to Japan with great enthusiasm", he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)