BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech on Sino-Japanese ties in March was "an important diplomatic move" adopted by China to improve bilateral ties, said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan here Monday.

    Tang made the remarks in a meeting with Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Takebe Tsutomu.

    Hu made the speech when meeting with heads of seven Japan-China friendship organizations in Beijing on March 31.

    "Sino-Japanese ties now face certain difficulties. The situation should be promptly reversed," Tang said.

    According to Tang, Hu in the speech fully expounded China's principled stance on Sino-Japanese ties with "an attitude responsible for history, the people and the future".

    It fully demonstrated China's active gesture and sincere aspiration to improve Sino-Japanese ties, he said.

    Takebe said Japan would learn the lesson from history and adhere to the path of peaceful development.

    He was willing to contribute to the improvement and growth of Japan-China relations through the promotion of exchanges between two ruling parties, as well as localities and non-governmental organizations of the two countries.

    China is Takebe's first leg of a weeklong Asian trip that will also take him to Mongolia. Enditem