China and Japan should adopt a strategic view in assessing bilateral relations and a global view in enhancing their friendship, said a top Chinese legislator on Thursday.  

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said the two countries should deepen mutual understanding and enhance mutual trust to lift bilateral relations to a new level.

Wu made the remarks during a meeting with Chinese and Japanese members of the new 21st Century Committee for Japan-China Friendship at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Wu said in the new century, both China and Japan should draw lessons from history and face the future in dealing with bilateral relations. The two countries should deal with issues of special concern, particularly the war history and Taiwan.

Wu praised the role that the 21st Century Committee for Japan-China Friendship had played in developing bilateral relations over the past two decades. He said the new 21st Century Committee was established in a new and crucial period in the development of Sino-Japanese relations. He expressed the hope that the committee members of both countries should live up to their missions by offering advice and suggestions to the growth of bilateral relations in the new century.

Wu said that over the past more than 30 years, Sino-Japanese relations had developed a sound foundation. The two countries had become increasingly dependent on each other as they shared broader cooperative areas and common interests.

Yotaro Kobayashi, top Japanese member of the 21st Century Committee for Japan-China Friendship, said the establishment of the new committee was of great importance in this new era of bilateral relations. He said the Japanese members of the committee were ready to join with the Chinese members to contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)