Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), urged Japan to properly view China's development and continuously enhance strategic trust between the two countries Monday.

Li Changchun (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo, on March 30, 2009. Li Changchun arrived in Tokyo to kick off his official goodwill visit Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)

Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Monday.

Li conveyed greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to Aso. Aso said he expected to meet with Hu in the upcoming Group of 20 Financial Summit, due to be held in London on April 2, and asked Li to transfer his greetings to Wen.

Li Changchun (L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Japanese Prime Minister and chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Taro Aso in Tokyo, Japan, on March 30, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Leaders of China and Japan had six meetings on bilateral and multi-lateral occasions last year, during which the two sides have reached broad agreement on promoting China-Japan strategic relations of mutual benefits in an all-round way, Li said.

"Sino-Japanese relations now stands in a new historic point and faces an important opportunity to go further ahead," Li said.

To further push forward such good growth momentum, Li called on both sides to maintain the political basis of bilateral ties.

"The four political documents guiding the bilateral ties have crystallized the important consensus of leaders in the past decades and should be strictly observed and earnestly cherished," he said.

Both should concretely push forward economic cooperation, in particular in energy, energy-saving, environmental protection and finance areas for giving new impetus to the growth of China-Japan ties, he said.

He also urged Japan to properly handle the major sensitive issues and accidental events between China and Japan so that these won't interfere in the overall situation of bilateral ties.

People-to-people communication, Li said, should also be strengthened to lay solid foundation of mutual friendship.

Political parties of China and Japan, ruling parties in particular, should contribute more to the growth of China-Japan relations, he said.

Financial crisis and measures to combat its adverse effects was an important topic during the meeting.

"The Chinese economy is inter-linked with the global economy. The measures taken by the Chinese government to ensure economic growth also provide new opportunities for other countries, including Japan," Li said.

He hoped China and Japan to open a new cooperative era by jointly overcoming the current difficulties and contributing to the recovery of the world economy.

The spreading financial crisis has offered new chances for Japan and China to carry out higher-level cooperation, the Japanese Prime Minister said. The active measures adopted by China to stimulate its domestic demand are of significance for the recovery of the world economy, he said, adding that Japan was willing to enhance cooperation with China on the reform of international financial system and other regional and global issues.

Aso said the frequent high-level exchanges have quickened the paces for the improvement of bilateral ties and promoted the mutually beneficial cooperation. He also highly spoke of the various events held last year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Li is the highest-ranking official who visits Japan this year. Besides Prime Minister Aso, he also met with leaders of political parties and senior executives of the Japanese business community.　

Editor: Yan