Chinese, Japanese legislators vow to enhance ties

China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, on Friday held talks with Yokomichi Takahiro, speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, and both pledged to further bilateral ties.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, hailed the development of Sino-Japanese relations since they were normalized in 1972.

He particularly highlighted frequent high-level visits, deepening trade and economic cooperation, expanding people-to-people contact and sound communication and cooperation on regional and international affairs.

Such achievements benefited the two peoples and preserved Asian and world peace, stability and development, Wu said, urging the two sides to cherish the current sound bilateral ties.

The legislator called on the two states, under the current international and domestic situation, to further cooperate and avoid disturbances so as to constantly promote bilateral relations.

Wu suggested the two sides handle bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective under the guidance of previous political agreements, deepen cooperation in such sectors as economy, trade, energy-saving, environmental protection, green economy and finance.

The two states should enhance communication on regional cooperation, he suggested, and jointly promote the integration of East Asia, consolidate friendship between the two peoples and properly handle sensitive issues.

Wu also called on the two parliaments to expand exchanges so as to contribute to the sound development of state-to-state relations.

Takahiro said Japan will work with China to further bilateral ties and Japan's parliament will strengthen exchange and cooperation with China's National People's Congress to push forward Japanese-Chinese ties.

On his first official visit to China after taking office, Takahiro thanked China for its aid following Japan's devastating earthquake last year.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping also met with Takahiro on the same day, calling for contributions from people of insight from various circles to the advancement of China-Japan strategic mutual beneficial relations.

The two nations should step up their dialogue among governmental departments, political parties and parliamentary organizations as well as people-to-people exchanges in a bid to increase political mutual trust and promote friendly feelings among Chinese and Japanese younger generations, Xi told Takahiro.

The vice president also suggested the two sides should appropriately handle sensitive issues concerning bilateral relations. That should be based on the "four political documents," the key series of agreements signed between the Chinese and Japanese governments.

Applauding the robust growth of bilateral ties since the nations normalized the diplomatic relationship 40 years ago, Xi said China would adhere to the path of peaceful development and is willing to share its growth with other countries, including Japan, and achieve common prosperity.

Echoing Xi's views, Takahiro agreed to further bilateral cooperation in many fields based on the four political documents as an effort to foster ties and contributed to the peace, stability and growth in Asia and the world.

The "four political documents," referring to the China-Japan Joint Statement on Comprehensively Advancing Strategic and Reciprocal Relations, the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, serve as the bedrock for developing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.