Chinese premier calls for improved ties with Japan

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Monday, during a meeting with a business delegation from Japan, that China stands ready to bring ties with Japan back to the right track of development.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations, Li told Yohei Kono, former speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and currently president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT).

History and reality show that China-Japan relations can maintain healthy and stable development only if both sides adhere to the principles set in the four political documents between the two countries and stick to the direction of peace, friendship and cooperation, said Li.

The Chinese premier urged Japan to move toward China's stance, view China's development as an opportunity, pursue a positive policy toward China, and create more positive elements for improving bilateral ties.

More than 40 years ago, non-governmental organizations and friendly people from Japan, including JAPIT, made active efforts for the normalization of bilateral ties, Li said, calling on them to continue working for the improvement and development of bilateral ties, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and enhancing mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Kono said JAPIT has always been committed to promoting the development of Japan-China relations through economic cooperation since it was founded more than 60 years ago.

The Japanese business community is closing watching China's development goals and measures and stands ready to make unremitting efforts to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and improve and develop bilateral relations, Kono said. Endi