Beijing, August 27th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation led by Toshihiro Nikai, Chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union and former Secretary-General of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party.

Liu said, Chairman Toshihiro Nikai and the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union have long made unremitting efforts in and contributions to developing China-Japan relations and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples. The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and China-Japan relationship is also at a critical stage. It is hoped that both sides will take the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in San Francisco as guidance, view China-Japan relations from a higher position and long-term perspective, strengthen overall and strategic communication as well as exchanges and cooperation in various fields, constructively manage contradictions and differences, and jointly work to build a China-Japan relationship that meets the needs of the new era.

Liu said, the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee drew up a grand blueprint for further deepening reform and promoting Chinese modernization, and put forward more than 300 reform measures, which will bring broad opportunities to countries including Japan. Representatives of Japanese political parties are welcome to come to China for dialogues and exchanges, to enhance strategic communication and mutual understanding.

Toshihiro Nikai said, this is my first visit to China in five years, and also my first visit to China since I took office as Chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union. I hope to take this opportunity to have in-depth dialogues with the Chinese side, help relevant departments of the two countries strengthen communication, and create conditions for both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement, tourism, etc., and properly handle and resolve contradictions and differences. The Japanese side is willing to actively promote visits by members of the ruling and opposition parties in Japan to China and strengthen friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, especially the younger generation.

Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, and Kenji Kanasugi, Japanese Ambassador to China, were present.