On December 28, 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides pledged to make joint efforts to seize the opportunity and push Sino-Japanese relations for new development.

Wen said that the Sino-Japanese friendship is a general trend and a common aspiration of both peoples as well. "To maintain and strengthen the China-Japan good-neighborly friendship and cooperative ties is the only correct choice of both countries. It is in line with the fundamental interests of our two peoples and is conducive to the peace and development of northeastern Asia, and the continent as a whole," Wen said. The premier noted China-Japan relations have entered "an important period of improvement and development", adding that he would like to work with Fukuda to jointly seize the opportunity to put strategic and mutually beneficial China-Japan relations into action and push bilateral ties towards long-term sound, stable development.

Wen proposed that the two countries should maintain momentum through mutual visits and meetings at various multi-lateral occasions by the two state leaders and conduct high-level consultation and communication on a timely basis on Sino-Japanese relations and issues of common concern to build political mutual trust. He also suggested the two nations should make use of the China-Japan economic high-level dialogue and other relevant mechanisms to cooperate in such key areas as energy, environmental protection, finance, high and new technology, communications and intellectual property rights protection and boost the quality and efficiency of China-Japan economic and trade cooperation. The two countries should further conduct personnel exchanges to strengthen China-Japan friendship, Wen said. Next year, the two countries will mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Meanwhile, youth exchange programs will be further promoted as the two countries observe the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth in 2008. The premier said the two nations would strengthen defense exchanges and security dialogues, and schedule "in good time" a China visit by Japan's defense minister and the maritime self-defense force. He said that China and Japan should "properly and cautiously" handle historical and Taiwan issues to safeguard the political basis of the bilateral relations.

Fukuda hailed the greatest ever contributions the two countries have currently made to peace and development of Asia and the world at large. It is the demand of the times and a common aspiration of Asian people and the international community for the two countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly undertake the responsibility for Asia and the world. Both sides should seize the opportunity to push forward cooperation in bilateral areas, as well as in promoting East Asia's development and responding to climate change in a mutually beneficial way, he added.

Fukuda expressed hope that Japan-China relations will witness rapid development in 2008. Japan will cooperate closely with China to make President Hu Jintao's visit and the Japan-China Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth great successes, he said. China will host the Olympic Games in 2008. Fukuda said Japan would "vigorously support" China and "sincerely look forward to" the success of the Games. He spoke highly of the achievements made at the first Japan-China economic high-level dialogue, urging both sides to well prepare for the second such dialogue. He hoped that both sides will enhance exchanges and cooperation on climate change, environmental protection, energy resources, investment, protection of intellectual property rights and food safety. The defense exchanges have made concrete progress, said Fukuda, expressing hope that both sides will continue the exchange visits between their naval ships and young officers to build up mutual understanding and trust. He also called for strengthening humanistic and parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

On the Taiwan question, Fukuda said that Japan adheres to its position set forth in the Japan-China joint statement. Japan would give no support to the claims of "one China, one Taiwan", "Taiwan independence" or Taiwan authorities' attempts to join the United Nations and to seek UN membership through a "referendum".

Fukuda said Japan would "very earnestly" reflect on the agonizing part of history and continue to follow the path of peaceful development so as to establish "forward-looking China-Japan relations".

The two leaders also discussed the East China Sea issue and reached consensus in the following four aspects.

First, the two sides will continue to adhere to the five-point consensus achieved by leaders of the two countries in April 2007 in a bid to turn the East China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.

Second, the two sides have elevated the level of consultation, conducted earnest and substantive consultation on the concrete solution to the issue and made positive progress.

Third, they have agreed to conduct vice ministerial-level consultation, if necessary, while maintaining the current consultation framework. They had also made joint efforts to reach an agreement on the solution to the issue at an early date on the basis of the overall situation of China-Japan relations and international law.

Fourth, the proper solution to the East China Sea issue conformed to the interests of both China and Japan. The two sides agreed to strive for an early solution in the process of developing bilateral ties.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern.

After the talks, the two witnessed the signing of cooperation documents concerning youth exchanges and scientific and technological cooperation. Later, the two leaders jointly met the press.

Prior to the talks, Premier Wen Jiabao held a welcoming ceremony for Fukuda's visit. Among those on the Chinese side who attended the ceremony were Vice Chairperson of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party Central Committee Wang Jirong, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman Zhu Zhixin of the National Development and Reform Commission, Vice Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai.