A reception was held in Beijing Saturday to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese treaty of peace and friendship.

Before the reception, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met with a Japanese delegation for the two countries' friendly relations.

Wu said the treaty laid the political foundation for the development of Sino-Japanese relations and promoted the cooperation between the two governments and peoples.

He said that the Chinese government and people valued the friendly relations with Japan, and as important Asia-Pacific countries, China and Japan should develop bilateral ties and promote mutual trust.

During the reception, Song Jian, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association, said the treaty strengthened the political foundation of the two countries, and is of significance to the long-term development of Sino-Japanese relations.

He voiced his hope of promoting Sino-Japanese relations to a new height based on the Sino-Japanese joint statement and joint declaration, the Sino-Japanese treaty of peace and friendship, and in the spirit of learning from history.

Former Japanese prime minister Hashimoto Ryutaro said the treaty stipulated the common tasks of the two countries to safeguard world peace and stability, expressing the hope to work with Chinese political, economic and cultural circles to achieve the goals in the treaty.

The reception was held by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China-Japan Friendship Association.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2003)