Chinese President Hu Jintao (C),
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (1st R) and Former Japanese Prime
Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone attend the opening ceremony of the 2008
Japan-China youth friendly exchange year at the Waseda University in
Tokyo, capital of Japan, May 8, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
TOKYO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese
President Hu Jintao met here on Thursday with four former Japanese prime
ministers and attended the inauguration of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange
Year of Youth in 2008.
While having breakfast with Yasuhiro Nakasone,
Toshiki Kaifu, Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe, Hu said the China-Japan relationship
is one of the most important bilateral relations for both countries.
In the changing world, China and Japan are facing
more common issues and responsibilities, and are sharing more common interests
and larger room for development, Hu said. The China-Japan relations have
exceeded the bilateral domain and are exerting stronger regional and global
influence.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) talks
with Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara (L) during the opening
ceremony of the 2008 Japan-China youth friendly exchange year at the
Waseda University in Tokyo, capital of Japan, May 8, 2008.(Xinhua
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
"The situation requests the two sides to earnestly
think about and map out the future of the China-Japan relations from a strategic
and long-term perspective," Hu said.
Nakasone voiced his belief that the two countries'
fourth political document signed Wednesday -- the China-Japan joint statement on
all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations -- will lead
the bilateral relations to a better future.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (front 2nd
R), Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (front 2nd L), Chinese table
tennis player Wang Nan (R) and Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara
(L) pose for photos during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Japan-China
youth friendly exchange year at the Waseda University in Tokyo, capital of
Japan, May 8, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Kaifu stressed the importance of candid exchange of
views when dealing with problems between the two countries. He called on the two
sides to strengthen communication in all fields, especially between young
people.
Mori expressed his views on the development of Africa
and hoped that China and Japan will enhance cooperation to make joint
contribution to peace and development of the continent.
Abe said that the exchange of visits by leaders of
the two countries is of great importance to the improvement and advancement of
bilateral ties and is conducive to the promotion of bilateral strategic and
mutually beneficial relations.
Later in the day, Hu attended the opening ceremony of
the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth in Tokyo's Waseda University,
calling on the youths of the two countries to join hands in shouldering the
great responsibility of promoting and carrying forward the China-Japan
friendship.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R)
prepares to sign his name on the bat for Japanese table tennis player Ai
Fukuhara (R) as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (2nd L) talks to
Chinese table tennis player Wang Nan (L) after the opening ceremony of the
2008 Japan-China youth friendly exchange year at the Waseda University in
Tokyo, capital of Japan, May 8, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
