Speaker Kono Yohei of Japan's House of Representatives made a brief statement in Beijing Monday, saying the it is increasingly essential for Japan and China to strengthen cooperative relations as the international situation remains turbulent since the 21st century set in.

Kono Yohei, at the head of a delegation of the Japanese House of Representatives, arrived in Beijing Monday for a six-day official visit to China at the invitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

"Currently the economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as the exchanges between their people in culture and tourism have enhanced to some extent," he said, noting that both the Chinese and Japanese people are wise and kind-hearted, and they all want peace instead of antagonism.

"The close coordination between Japan and China is the motive force for development of east Asia," Kono Yohei said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2004)