Kazuo Kodama (R), Press Secretary of Japanese Foreign Minister, briefs on the ASEAN+3 meeting and meetings between Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and leaders attending the ASEM meetings on the sidelines of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing, in the ASEM7 Press Center in Beijing International Hotel, Beijing, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2008. The ASEM7 summit kicked off in Beijing Friday afternoon.(Xinhuanet/Yangtze Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    By Yangtze Yan

    BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan and China have agreed to improve communications by conducting more "timely" exchanges over the phone, said Kazuo Kodama, a Japanese Foreign Ministry press secretary, here Friday on the sidelines of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

    He added Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso raised the idea with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in their separate meetings prior to the ASEM summit in Beijing.    

    Aso also said both sides should have timely communication at the highest level which was welcomed by the Chinese leaders, he said.

    The meetings were the first between the new Japanese leader and Chinese leaders since Aso was elected to replace Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister last month.

    "Both leaders confirmed the further promotion of the mutually beneficial Sino-Japanese relationship," he said.

     Hu and Aso also attended a reception on Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty signing, calling on both nations to make joint efforts to further boost bilateral relations.

     Aso arrived in China on Thursday evening for the ASEM summit. It was his first visit since taking office last month.