On May 8, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Tokyo with Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono and House of Councilors President Satsuki Eda respectively.

During the meetings, Hu pointed out that the Chinese and the Japanese people have conducted friendly communication in the past 2,000 years and formed the tradition of Sino-Japanese friendship, which is a common treasure for both sides. "Since the normalization of the China-Japan relations in 1972, the full development of the bilateral ties has brought about concrete and significant benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, and has contributed to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, winning universal welcome of the international community," Hu said. "The development of the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and in the world," Hu added. Hu called on both sides to make joint efforts to push forward the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations by enhancing strategic mutual trusts, deepening reciprocal cooperation, expanding humanities exchanges, advancing Asia's boom and tackling global challenges so as to advance China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono

Kono, for his part, wished Hu a successful visit, the first by a Chinese head of state in a decade. Kono said the Japan-China joint statement signed on May 7 had abundant contents and clarified the future direction of the bilateral relations. "Japan and China need to respect each other and treat each other as equals especially as they are close neighbors. The two sides should join hands to make contributions to peace and development of their own as well as Asia and even the whole world," Kono said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with Japanese House of Councilors President Satsuki Eda

Eda hailed Hu's Japan trip as a new starting point for bilateral ties, which bears great significance for building up the Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations. He wished that Hu's visit to Japan would achieve positive fruits.

Hu stressed that the regular communication mechanism built up between the Chinese National People's Congress and the Japanese Diet (parliament) has played a positive role in strengthening bilateral political communication and advancing the improvement and development of the China-Japan relations. He called on both sides to further communication through the platform and continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship among politicians, especially young politicians, so as to contribute more to a long-term healthy and stable development of the China-Japan relations.

The Japanese side spoke highly of the dynamic exchanges between the Japanese Diet and the Chinese National People's Congress in recent years, pledging to conduct a range of important exchange activities this year. The Japanese Diet hopes to establish much closer ties with the NPC of China and make efforts to build mutual understanding between the two peoples and promote cooperation in all areas.

Yohei Kono and Satsuki Eda said the Beijing Olympics will be an Olympic Games to be held in Asia again. They sincerely wished the Beijing Olympics a great success, pledging to cooperate with China to this end.

Hu said the Beijing Olympic Games not only belongs to the Chinese people but also to the people in Asia and the world as a whole. A Japanese lawmakers' league supporting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has been formed at the suggestion of Kono, who is also head of the league. China highly appreciates the move by the Japanese side, Hu said. "The Chinese government and the Chinese people will faithfully fulfill their commitments to the international community and will work together with the broad international Olympic family to make the Beijing Olympics a sports event of unique characteristics and of high quality," Hu said.

Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) & Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.