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Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L)
meets with Nara Prefecture Governor Shogo Arai in Nara, Japan, May 10,
2008. (Xinhua Photo)
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NARA, Japan, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese
President Hu Jintao met Saturday with Shogo Arai, governor of Nara Prefecture,
and Akira Hujiwara, mayor of Nara City, to discuss relations between their two
countries.
During talks with the Japanese local officials, Hu
said that Nara is a renowned ancient capital of Japan with a profound cultural
foundation, and the historical sites of Horyu Temple and Toshodai Temple have
witnessed the long history of the China-Japan friendly exchanges, and have
become important emblems of bilateral cultural exchanges.
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Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (C)
poses for photos with monks of Toshodaiji Temple, founded by Chinese monk
Jianzhen in 759, in Nara, Japan, May 10, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
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He said that friends of various circles in Nara,
upholding the friendly tradition, have warm-heartedly conducted exchanges with
China and made positive contributions to promoting China-Japan relations.
Currently, China-Japan relations have maintained a
good momentum for advancement, which will provide more favorable conditions for
regional exchanges as well as expansion of cooperation in various fields between
the two countries, said Hu.
"We should carry on and promote the spirit of Great
Master Jianzhen (Ganjin Wajyo) to continuously push forward China-Japan
friendship," the Chinese president said.
Jianzhen (688-763), a prominent Buddhist monk of the
Tang Dynasty of China (618-907), was the chief priest invited by Japan's Emperor
Shomu (701-756) to teach the Chinese Buddhist precepts to Japanese Buddhist
monks at the Toshodai-ji Temple in Nara. Jianzhen lived in Japan for 10 years.
He not only spread knowledge of Buddhism, but also made prominent contributions
to Japanese architecture, medicine and art.
Hu also expressed the hope that Nara will seize the
opportunity, make best of its advantages and make fresh contributions to
China-Japan relations.
Arai and Hujiwara voiced their warm welcome to
President Hu's visit.
They said that Great Master Jianzhen came to Nara
more than 1,200 years ago and set up the bridge for friendly exchanges between
the two peoples.
Today, President Hu came to Nara for a visit, which
is sure to strongly cement Japan-China relations, they said.
Arai and Hujiwara expressed their best wishes for
both countries' prosperity and permanent friendship between the two peoples.
The two local officials wished the 2008 Beijing
Olympic Games a complete success.
President Hu is on a five-day state visit to Japan,
the first by a Chinese president to Japan in a decade. His visit, dubbed
"warm-spring" trip, is scheduled to conclude later Saturday.
Chinese president meets leading
members of Japanese lawmakers' Olympics-supporting body
TOKYO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President
Hu Jintao met Friday with leading members of Japanese lawmakers' league
supporting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which is headed by Yohei Kono,
speaker of Japan's lower house.
Expressing his thanks to the members, President Hu said
the Beijing Olympics has got sincere regard and vigorous support from all
circles of Japan. Full story
Chinese president meets former
Japanese PMs, attends youth exchange year inauguration
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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)
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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. Full story
