On November 20, 2009, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in Tokyo.

Yang said since the new Japanese cabinet came into office, leaders of the two countries have held successive meetings to reach important consensus on deepening strategic and mutually beneficial relations. The political mutual trust has been improved and communication in all areas is progressing. China will seize the current favorable opportunities to increase strategic input in bilateral ties, further bilateral cooperation and high-level visits, expand cooperation in Asia and enhance coordination in international affairs in a bid to push for in-depth development of bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Yang expounded China's views and proposals on strengthening East Asian cooperation. He noted that China is willing to facilitate the building of China-Japan-ROK free trade area and trilateral cooperation on sustainable development. "It's a common goal of countries in the region, including China and Japan to build the East Asia Community. We should work together to complement each other's advantages, seek mutual benefit and win-win outcome and make even greater contributions to improving peace, development and prosperity of Asia," he said.

Hatoyama said he had many chances to meet Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao since he became the prime minister in September and both sides reached agreement on further enhancing and implementing Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations. He believed the frequent high-level exchanges are of great significance to the development of bilateral ties. "I hope we can keep the momentum and I am looking forward to participating in the Shanghai Expo next year."

Hatoyama said he hopes Japan and China will further develop pragmatic cooperation in all areas, consolidate the friendly ties between the two countries, build close trade relations and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcome. Japan is ready to advance East Asian and Asian cooperation in a spirit of fraternity and work with other parties in building an East Asian community and promoting regional and world peace and development.

On the same day, Yang met respectively with Japanese Communist Party Chair Kazuo Shii, Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Tadamori Oshima, representative of the New Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi, Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan Ichiro Ozawa, President of the Social Democratic Party of Japan Mizuho Fukushima and leader of the People's New Party Shizuka Kamei. Yang also attended a breakfast meeting held by Fujio Mitarai, Chairman of Japan Business Federation, as well as a welcome luncheon given by the seven Japan-China friendship organizations.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai attended the above activities.