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By admin on 2015-02-02

China and Japan on Monday pledged to enhance bilateral ties, as territorial and other disputes linger.

"The development of Chinese-Japanese relations conforms with the fundamental interests of the two peoples," Vice President Xi Jinping told visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki.

As major trade and economic partners, China and Japan are becoming more dependent on each other, Xi said during an hour-long meeting with Matsumoto at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Xi also mentioned the important responsibilities borne by the two states in safeguarding and promoting peace and development in Asia and the world at large.

The two countries share broad common interests on international and regional issues, Xi told Matsumoto who is on his first visit to China since he took office in March.

Xi talked with Matsumoto about the rebuilding effort in Japan following the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

"I believe that the Japanese people, through their unremitting efforts, can overcome difficulties, rebuild their homes and achieve new economic and social progress," Xi said.

Matsumoto said Japan appreciated China's condolences over the disaster, especially those from President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, as well as the aid the country had provided.

He said Japan hoped to enhance cooperation with China in various fields, including post-disaster reconstruction, to push forward the mutually beneficial strategic relations.

Matsumoto talked with his counterpart Yang Jiechi prior to the meeting with Xi. And Yang reiterated to Matsumoto that the Diaoyu Islands are China's "inherent territory."

Also Monday afternoon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei voiced the demand that some Japanese boats fishing in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands should be immediately withdrawn.

Reportedly the fishing boats have already moved away from waters of the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan, Hong said.

Yang also called on the two sides to work together to implement the principled consensus on the East China Sea through practical activities.

Yang expressed China's concern over the China-related issues being raised by the U.S.-Japan military alliance, and elaborated China's stance on the South China Sea.

Japan and the United States issued a joint statement late June, which involved calls for China to play a constructive role in regional stability.

During Monday's talks, China and Japan agreed that continuously pushing forward their bilateral cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, as well as the regional and global peace and stability.

In the current and following period, China and Japan should work together to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and promote the bilateral ties through commemorating the next year's 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties, Yang said.

At a press briefing Monday afternoon, Hidenobu Sobashima, a spokesman for Japanese Foreign Ministry, said the two top diplomats "discussed almost all the issues" they wished to talk about.

He said the two foreign ministers touched on a wide range of issues, including bilateral ties, the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula, the differences on the Diaoyu Islands, and China's export of rare earth to Japan.

Sobashima said Matsumoto also congratulated China on the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China during his meeting with Chinese leaders.

Noting that China and Japan will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties, Sobashima told reporters that "we should make next year a very fruitful year."

State Councillor Dai Bingguo also met with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki Monday evening. The two sides exchanged views on further developing the mutually beneficial strategic relations between the two countries.

Matsumoto Takeaki is paying the visit from July 3 to 4 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.