Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Sunday with Hiromu Nonaka, former secretary-general of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party.

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral issues, regional and international situations of mutual concern.

Tang said that the China-Japan relationship is one of China's most important bilateral ties.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the treaty of peace and friendship between China and Japan, Tang said, noting that the two sides, to preserve the overall situation, should "learn from the past experience and look forward to the future".

The two sides should abide by the principles and spirit of the agreements on China-Japan ties, handle the issues affecting the progress of bilateral ties, especially historic issues and the Taiwan issue, and push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, Tang said.

Hiromu Nonaka, invited by the Communist Party of China, arrived in Beijing Aug. 24.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2003)