Special report: Premier Wen attends China-ASEAN summit

    CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday in Cebu, the second largest city of the Philippines.

    The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

    They expressed their willingness to continue to further the momentum of improvement and development of bilateral relations between China and Japan.

    During the meeting, Abe invited again Premier Wen to pay an official visit in Spring this year. Wen accepted the invitation.

    Wen made positive comments on the momentum of improvement of the Sino-Japanese ties since Abe's official visit to China in October last year shortly after he took office as prime minister.

    Wen said the improvement of bilateral ties conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and was widely welcomed by the international community.

    The Sino-Japanese relations are currently in the crucial stage of returning back to the track of normal development, which needs cherishment and greater efforts from both sides, Wen added.

    The year 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of the Sino-Japanese ties and the next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the signing the Sino-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty, Wen said, adding that both constitute important opportunities for further development of bilateral ties.

    Both sides should grasp the opportunities for the development of the bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective, and firmly stick to the path of "peaceful co-existence, friendship for generations, cooperation of mutual benefit and common development," said the Chinese premier.

    The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Seventh Trilateral Leaders' Meeting of China, Japan and South Korea, and the 10th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus China, Japan and South Korea (or 10+3).

    The Chinese premier arrived in Cebu on Saturday to attend a series of summits. It was the fourth time for Wen to attend such ASEAN-related summits since 2003.

    He will also pay an official visit to the Philippines.