On December 26, 2011, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda at the Great Hall of the People.

Wu said, despite twists and turns, bilateral relations have been moving forward in general since the normalization of diplomatic relations 39 years ago. The four political documents signed by the two sides set the principles for the development of bilateral relations and laid the political foundation of China-Japan relations. Bilateral economic and trade, local and cultural exchanges and cooperation have reached an unprecedented level, bringing important benefits to the two countries and peoples and contributing to peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at large. Wu stressed that the significance of China-Japan relations goes beyond a bilateral relationship, and the Chinese side attaches great importance to it. "Next year is a significant year for bilateral ties. The two sides should go with the stream of the era and properly handle the development direction of the ties," Wu said. He called on the two sides to strengthen political mutual trust and cooperation in all fields, hold exchange activities to mark the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Japan National Exchange and Friendship, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and push the China-Japan strategic reciprocal ties to advance on a healthy and stable track.

Speaking highly of the "important role" of the regular exchange mechanisms between China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Diet of Japan in promoting the improvement of China-Japan relations, Wu said the two sides should continue to make full use of these platforms. With these platforms, the two sides could strengthen exchanges and dialogues on each other's domestic and foreign policies, development paths and other issues of common concern, so as to promote mutual understanding and trust, and to spur more statesmen, especially the young ones, to pay attention to, and support the development of China-Japan relations, said Wu.

Noda first thanked the Chinese government and people for their valuable support when Japan was hit by a devastating earthquake. Noda said Japan and China are neighbors separated only by a strip of water, as well as the world's third and second largest economies, respectively. China's development is an opportunity for Japan and the international community, and is conducive to both regional and world peace, stability and development. He said the Japanese side was ready to join hands with the Chinese side to take next year's 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further strengthen friendly exchanges between governments, political parties, parliaments, localities and young people, so as to promote the development of bilateral ties.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was present at the meeting.