China, Japan agree to deepen cooperation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-24 23:41

BEIJING: Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met with visiting Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka here Wednesday.

Both sides highlighted the strategic meaning of bilateral relations and agreed to deepen cooperation in all fields.

China and Japan signed their fourth diplomatic document when President Hu Jintao visited Japan last May, which took bilateral relations to a new historic point, Dai said at the beginning of their meeting.

China paid great attention to its relationship with Japan and would like to work with Japan to promote a strategic relationship of mutual benefit, Dai said.

He suggested that both support each other's development, push forward the process of Asian integration and cooperate to tackle the international financial crisis.

Mitoji said Japan wanted to push forward relations with China, and would adhere to its peaceful constitution and refrain from becoming a major military power.

He also reiterated that Japan would stick to its three principles of not acquiring nuclear weapons, not obtaining offensive weapons and not resorting to threats of the use of force.

China and Japan started their 10th strategic dialogue in Beijing on Wednesday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Mitoji co-chaired the dialogue.

Officials from both countries exchanged views in depth on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, and reached wide consensus, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Both sides agreed that the China-Japan relationship was "of special significance" against the global financial crisis and changes in international and regional situations. China and Japan should enhance political mutual trust and strengthen collaboration in all fields, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The last round of the China-Japan Strategic Dialogue was held on January 9 in Tokyo.