Chinese and Japanese legislators met in Beijing on Friday to discuss bilateral relations, parliamentary exchanges, trade and economic cooperation, energy and environmental protection and other international and regional issues of common concern.

Lu Yongxiang, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, co-chaired the meeting, the third of its kind, with Aisawa Ichiro, Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of Japan's House of Representatives.

Lu said this year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations.

"China is ready to make joint efforts with Japan to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, in a bid to promote the healthy and steady development of China-Japan relations," said Lu.

He said he hoped Japan would adhere to the three political documents between the two countries, properly handle history issues and the Taiwan issue, stick to the one-China policy, and consolidate the momentum of improving and developing China-Japan relations.

Lu said China would work with Japan to promote the realization of peaceful coexistence, friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.

Ichiro Aisawa said relations had entered a new period. "Japan is willing to face history issues with a serious attitude, guide younger generations to a correct knowledge of history, and work with China to build a solid strategic and mutually beneficial relationship."

The two sides agreed to promote understanding and friendship using the regular exchange mechanism as a platform and taking advantage of close contacts between parliament members and the public.

Both sides agreed that China and Japan had great potential for cooperation on economy and trade, and should jointly promote the development of bilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation.

The two sides also exchanged views on the security of Northeast Asia, East Asia cooperation and other international and regional issues.

After the meeting, the Japanese delegation left to visit Qingdao city, in the eastern Shandong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2007)