Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting chief of the China-Japan Friendship Association Song Jian agreed on Friday to further promote grassroots exchanges between the two countries.

 

Abe said Japan is willing to take the opportunity of the year 2007, the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China ties, to vigorously strengthen bilateral exchanges on culture, sports and youth activities in order to further consolidate ties between the two countries.

 

Abe said during his visit to China in October, he reached an important consensus with Chinese leaders on building up mutually beneficial strategic relations and confirmed the direction of development of bilateral ties.

 

The Japanese leader underlined the importance of constant contacts of the two countries' leaders, which he said could enhance mutual understanding and trust, and could promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges.

 

Abe met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the 14th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Hanoi in November.

 

Song said Abe's visit to China, his first overseas trip after taking office in September, initiated a new prospect for the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations, and was widely welcomed by the people of the two countries and the international society.

 

China is willing to make efforts with the Japanese side to implement a series of agreements reached by the two leaders and push for further development of bilateral ties.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2006)