BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said here on Tuesday that President Hu Jintao will visit Japan next year.

    The date for the visit, however, will be set by the two sides through diplomatic consultations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters at a routine press conference.

    China and Japan share common understanding on maintaining and enhancing high-level visits and exchanges, he said.

    President Hu's Japan trip will be the first visit by a Chinese head of state in a decade.

    In a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Singapore last month, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda expressed his wish to visit China at an early date, possibly within this year or at the beginning of next year.