Japan and China should strengthen ties in various fields so as to deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples and push forward bilateral cooperation, said a Japanese official in Beijing Tuesday.  

Chihiro Atsumi, minister of the Japanese Embassy in China, made the remark following an inspection of some assistance programs in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality from March 22 to 25.

Atsumi, as the head of the inspection team, said although they did have some unavoidable problems, the two neighbors should talk seriously together and increase contacts and exchanges in a bid to enhance cooperation.

The programs inspected by the team involved personnel training, forestry, health and transportation.

Japan has offered various forms of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to China since 1979.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)