Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Tuesday with a delegation of six Japan-China friendship associations and a delegation of young members of the Diet of Japan.

While meeting with the representatives from the six Japan-China friendship associations, Tang said that the non-governmental friendship associations played an important role in improving and developing Sino-Japanese relations. He said he hoped the friendship associations of both countries would carry out more practical exchanges and cooperation, as a way to stabilize and extend the social foundation of the bilateral relations.

During his meeting with the young members of the Diet of Japan, Tang noted that Sino-Japanese relations were in a crucial moment. Both sides, especially the leaders of the two countries, need to handle the relations from an overall perspective in order to boost a healthy and long-term bilateral relation.

China hopes that the Japanese leaders could correctly deal with the sensitive issues including the visits to Yasukuni Shrine and the Japan-Taiwan relations, said Tang, adding that he hoped that the young diet men become a vital force in boosting Sino-Japanese friendship.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)