"This was the first time that the two sides began positioning and planning bilateral relations at a strategic level," Hu said. The improvement and development of bilateral relations had not only brought major benefits to China and Japan, it also had contributed positively to peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world, Hu said.

China had always viewed and developed China-Japan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. Hu said China would continue to pursue its policy of China-Japan friendship and work with Japan to realize the goal of peaceful coexistence, friendship for all generations, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.

Hu, noting that the world was currently undergoing complicated and profound changes, said China and Japan were sharing additional common interests and challenges.

"Bilateral relations are facing major opportunities for development at higher levels and in greater space," Hu said.

He said China was ready to work with Japan to advance their mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests in a sustained and extensive way.

Hu put forward five propositions on developing China-Japan relations, including the enhancement of high-level communications, cooperation on Asian affairs, promoting trade and economic cooperation, improving friendship, and properly dealing with the differences.

The issues of history and Taiwan were two political concerns in China-Japan relations, Hu said. He hoped Japan could properly handle the two issues with the general bilateral relations in mind.

For his part, Hatoyama agreed with Hu's remarks. He congratulated China on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, saying the country's development had made great contributions to world peace and the global economy.

Hatoyama said the Japanese government and people wanted to develop friendly relations with China. Japan would work to strengthen high-level communications, enhance mutual understanding and trust, deepen trade and cooperation with China in all fields, and foster better understanding between the two peoples, he said.

Hatoyama said the Japanese government would stick to the August 15, 1995 statement by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the history issue, in which Murayama made an apology for Japanese crimes before and during the war and expressed deep remorse and stressed the need for Japan to "convey to younger generations the horror of war" so that it would never repeat the mistake.

Hatoyama also pledged that his government would continue to abide by the Japan-China joint declaration on the Taiwan issue.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Hatoyama was elected Japan's prime minister on Sept. 16. They also exchanged views on climate change and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

President Hu will attend a UN climate change summit in New York on Tuesday, address the general debate of the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly Wednesday, and participate in a Security Council summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament on Thursday, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry officials.

Following the UN meetings, President Hu will fly to Pittsburgh for the G20 summit from September 24-25.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2009)