On February 22, 2008, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met respectively with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito Party and Democratic Party in Tokyo.

When meeting with Abe, Tang reviewed the "ice-breaking" trip to China made by the former prime minister and the warm hospitality extended to Premier Wen Jiabao during Wen's "ice-thawing" visit to Japan. The state councilor highly praised Abe's important contributions to the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations. Sino-Japanese relations are facing new significant opportunities for development, as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan and is also the China-Japan Youths Friendly Exchange Year and the Beijing Olympic year. President Hu Jintao will also pay a state visit to Japan in spring this year, added Tang. He believed that these events will help to push for bilateral friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, expressing hope that former Prime Minister Abe will continue to care about and support the development of Sino-Japanese relations.

Abe said to strengthen Japan-China cooperation is in the interest of both countries and is also conducive to Asia and the world at large, adding that both sides should keep high-level contacts. He wished President Hu's upcoming visit a great success and also called for enhancing youth exchanges to realize long-term friendship between the two countries.

When meeting with Bunmei Ibuki, secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sadakazu Tanigaki, the party's policy chief, Toshihiro Nikai, chairman of the party's General Council and Makoto Koga, chairman of the party's Election Strategy Council, Tang said Sino-Japanese relations have maintained a good momentum of improvement and development in general and the leaders of the two countries have exchanged visits successfully, reaching important consensus on enhancing Sino-Japanese strategic reciprocal relations. President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to Japan will push for long-term in-depth development of bilateral ties, he noted. Both sides should well implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen political trust, boost cooperation on economy, trade, energy conservation and environmental protection and actively promote youth exchanges by looking into the future. Tang said China is ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with the LDP to jointly push forward Sino-Japanese ties.

Bunmei Ibuki said the LDP has always attached importance to developing ties with China. Against the background of sound Japan-China relations, both sides should strengthen personnel contacts and pragmatic cooperation.

When meeting with Akihiro Ota, chief representative of Japan's New Komeito Party, Tang appreciated the party's long-standing support of Sino-Japanese friendship. The state councilor said there is huge potential for cooperation between China and Japan. As China is committed to building an energy-saving, environment-friendly society, there is broad prospect for bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy conservation and environmental protection. China is ready to maintain contact and exchanges with the New Komeito Party in promoting bilateral friendly cooperation.

Akihiro Ota said the New Komeito Party is ready to make contributions to Japan-China relations and will focus on pushing for bilateral cooperation in such areas as environmental protection.

Tang briefed Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, on China's enormous achievements in reform and opening up, stressing that China sticks to the road of peaceful development and adheres to the opening policy based on mutual benefits and win-win results. China's development will not pose threats to any other country, he said. China takes a responsible attitude in international and regional affairs and is playing a constructive role in safeguarding world and regional peace and stability and promoting common development, he added. The state councilor said China hopes to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with the Democratic Party of Japan to build up mutual understanding. China also hopes that the party can play a positive role in pushing for healthy and smooth development of Sino-Japanese relations, he added.

Ichiro Ozawa expressed the Democratic Party's belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China's reform and opening up will score even greater achievements.

On the same day, Tang also met with Daisaku Ikeda, honorary president of Soka Gakkai, who has long been committed to the Sino-Japanese friendship cause.