In order to fulfill the "strategic and reciprocal relations", the two sides should promote cooperation, deepen mutual trust and enrich exchange activities, Yang said.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty and the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth.

China and Japan decided to hold 4,000 youth exchanges a year for the next four years.

The statement said the two sides agreed to face history squarely, look forward to the future and make continuous joint efforts to open up new prospects in their strategic mutually beneficial relations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)