China and Japan are facing "important opportunities" for developing bilateral relations, Chinese Top Legislator Wu Bangguo said in Beijing on Monday, calling on the Asia neighbors to increase both political trust and promote healthy ties.

 

 

Wu spoke out during his meeting with Nikai Toshihiro, chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

 

2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations. Wu said the two countries should seize the day to further enhance political trust and implement the consensus reached by the two heads of states, according to the spirit of the three China-Japan political documents.

 

He further urged cooperation in the fields of energy, environmental protection and technology, and increase personnel exchanges, especially between young people.

 

Nikai pledged to wield his personal influence to promote Japan-China friendship, and to cement bilateral non-governmental exchanges.

 

Earlier in the morning, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan also met with Nikai. Tang said the two countries should increase strategic mutual trust, viewing it as an important precondition for building a reciprocal strategic relationship.

 

Nikai brought a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, but no details on its content were revealed.

 

An important aspect of Nikai's current China trip is the discussion of people-to-people exchanges to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2007)