China reiterates position on ties with Japan

BEIJING - China's Foreign Ministry on Friday reiterated its position on current China-Japan relations, urging the Japanese side to make tangible efforts to properly address relevant issues in order to improve bilateral ties.

Spokesman Hong Lei said at the ministry's daily press briefing that developing healthy and steady relations between China and Japan is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples.

China's position to develop the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship based on the "four political documents" between the two countries has not changed, he said, urging the Japanese side to show sincerity in improving bilateral relations.

The "four political documents" -- the China-Japan Joint Statement on Comprehensively Advancing Strategic and Reciprocal Relations, the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration -- serve as the bedrock for developing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

The "four political documents" were signed by the two sides in 1972, 1978, 1998 and 2008, respectively.