Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan during their meeting in Tokyo, capital of Japan, on Feb. 21, 2008. Tang Jiaxuan arrived in Tokyo late Wednesday for a four-day visit at the invitation of the Japanese government. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan started a new round of high-level dialogue here on Friday, with important tasks to promote a relationship that has entered a crucial period with many opportunities, particularly in Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit, experts said.

    After the "spring herald" visit by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to China in December, Sino-Japan relations have entered a favorable period of improvement and development, said Gao Hong, a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher.

    The two sides agreed during Fukuda's visit that Hu will visit Japan in the coming spring, specifically in April. The visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to Japan in 10 years, is one of the most important opportunities for further development of bilateral ties.

    This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China, and is also the China-Japan Youths Friendly Exchange Year and the Beijing Olympic year.

    "It is undoubtedly significant to hold the new dialogue at this new period for China-Japan relations, particularly right ahead President Hu's visit to Japan in April," said Gao. "An important task of the dialogue is to discuss on the prior preparation for the visit."

    The "strategic dialogue" was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart, Mitoji Yabunaka, the first time for the two to lead delegations to the dialogue. The talks started at 3:30 p.m. at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and were scheduled to end on Saturday morning.

    The two-day meeting may also focus on how to promote the building of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, including some major issues of common concern, such as the East China Sea, Gao said.

    On the recent dumpling poisoning case in Japan, experts said the issue may also be touched upon at the dialogue.

    "The media should not exaggerate the case. It is only a specific case and should not pose any big impact on China-Japan relations," said Yang Bojiang, director of the Institute of Japanese Studies under the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

    He said the two sides may take the dumpling case as an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen bilateral cooperation on food security, such as finding ways to avoid similar cases in future.

    The China-Japan strategic dialogue, launched in 2005 amid the "frozen period" of Sino-Japan relations, has been held for seven rounds.

    "The strategic dialogue is an important part of the China-Japan cooperation mechanism. It is a general trend for the two countries to develop dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in various fields and on various levels," Yang said.

    The eighth strategic dialogue was added to a series of exchanges between the two nations recently.

    A regular meeting between the Chinese National People's Congress and Japanese House of Councilors concluded on Wednesday. Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan is currently visiting Japan, while a senior leader of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will visit China next week.

    "The recent frequent exchanges can create favorable atmosphere for President Hu's visit to Japan and will also exert a subtle influence on the improvement of bilateral ties," Yang said.