Special Report: President Hu Visits Japan

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing arrives in Tokyo, Japan, May 6, 2008. Hu begins his five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan aimed at boosting the strategic and mutually beneficial relationships between China and Japan as of Tuesday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TOKYO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday, kicking off a five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan aimed at boosting the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan.

    Hu's state visit to Japan is the first by a Chinese president in 10 years.

    During his visit, the Chinese president is expected to meet with Japan's Emperor Akihito and hold talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Sino-Japanese relations and other issues of common concern.

    Hu will also have broad contacts with leaders of Japan's parliament and political parties and people from all circles, Chinese diplomats said.

    In an interview with Japanese journalists on Sunday, the Chinese president described his trip to Japan as one in a "warm spring" and he wished for a "warm spring for the friendship between the two peoples."

Chinese President Hu Jintao (front,R) arrives in Tokyo, Japan, May 6, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Hu said his visit to Japan was aimed at enhancing mutual trust, friendship and cooperation, making programs for the future, and comprehensively pushing forward bilateral strategic and reciprocal relations.

    Hu's visit to Japan is seen as a step to further improve the once-chilly Sino-Japanese relationship, which started to warm with the "ice-breaking" visit by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China in October 2006. That event was followed by the "ice-thawing" Japan trip by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last April and Fukuda's "spring-herald" visit to China last December.

    Sino-Japanese relations now are improving further. The leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent contacts, and cooperation in politics, trade, culture and defense has made remarkable achievements. The two countries have also conducted close consultations on global issues like climate change and sustainable development. 

    The economies of the two countries are deeply intertwined. China was Japan's top trading partner last year while Japan was China's third largest with two-way trade amounting to 236 billion U.S. dollars. Japan's accumulative foreign direct investment (FDI)in China has reached 60.7 billion dollars, which makes Japan China's second-largest foreign investment source.

    This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and the two countries observe the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth in 2008.

    At a press conference on April 29, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China hopes that Hu's visit to Japan could enhance political trust, deepen practical cooperation in various fields and expand people-to-people exchanges, in a bid to jointly promote strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.

    "The improvement and development of the Sino-Japanese relationship is in the fundamental interests of both peoples and also conducive to peace, stability and development in Asia. We are ready to make joint efforts with Japan to further the relationship," Jiang said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao（C） arrives in Tokyo to begin his five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan aimed at boosting the strategic and mutually beneficial relationships between China and Japan, May 6, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Tokyo to begin his five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan aimed at boosting the strategic and mutually beneficial relationships between China and Japan, May 6, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Hu: China-Japan relations facing new opportunities 

    TOKYO, May 6 ( Xinhua) -- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and the Sino-Japanese relations are facing new opportunities for further development, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday. Full story

President Hu meets Japanese journalists

Chinese President Hu Jintao (4th R) talks to Japanese journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 4, 2008. Hu, who is scheduled to pay a visit to Japan from May 6 to 10, had an interview with journalists from 16 Japanese media organizations stationed in Beijing on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Sunday that his upcoming state visit to Japan will have the atmosphere of a "warm spring".

    Hu, who is scheduled to pay the visit from May 6 to 10, made the remarks during an interview with journalists from 16 Japanese media institutions stationed in Beijing. Full Story

Hu's visit to futher promote China-Japan ties

    TOKYO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to pay a state visit to Japan on May 6-10. The visit, the first by a Chinese president to Japan in a decade, is widely seen as a move that will further promote China-Japan relations.

    Hu's visit falls on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, one of the three key political documents serving as the bedrock for developing friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations.Full Story

President Hu sends message to Japanese readers

    BEIJING May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message to Japanese readers via a Japanese-language magazine "People's China" prior to his visit to Japan. Full story 

Japanese parliament leader hails Chinese president's upcoming visit

    TOKYO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's forthcoming visit to Japan is set to have far-reaching impact on the Japan-China relationship during a long period in the future, Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono said Wednesday.

    "I am looking forward passionately to the visit," Kono said during a joint interview with Japan-based Chinese correspondents. Full story

Chinese president to visit Japan in early May

    BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Japan from May 6 to 10, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu announced on Tuesday at a regular press conference.

    Hu's visit will be the first by a Chinese president to Japan over the past decade and also his first foreign visit after he was re-elected as Chinese President. Full story