BEIJING -- The Chinese government on Wednesday pledged to cement friendly relations with Japan.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong (C Front Row) meets with members of the Japan-China Friendship Association led by its president Ikuo Hirayama (R6) and its honorary advisor Hiromu Nonaka (L6) in Beijing, Nov. 8, 2006. [Xinhua]

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"This benefits the two peoples, and is conducive to peace and stability in Asia and the world," said Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong.

When meeting with a delegation from the Japan-China Friendship Association, Zeng said the Chinese government attaches importance to relations with Japan, and would like to further the good-neighborly relations by learning from history and looking to the future.

Zeng expressed appreciation for the contribution of the Japan-China Friendship Association to promote Sino-Japanese relations.

He hailed the visit to China by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early October, saying it "created conditions for the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations".

Zeng said that China and Japan were important neighbors and bilateral ties had progressed since the two countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1972.

Hiromu Nonaka, honorary advisor of the Japan-China Friendship Association, said Japan-China relations had endured an ongoing "winter season" for the past five years, and Abe's visit had set a foundation for the improvement of bilateral ties.

Ikuo Hirayama, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Association, vowed to promote cooperation between Japan and China.

China commemorates two Japanese promoters of Sino-Japan friendship

China commemorated on Wednesday the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kinkazu Saionji and Tokuma Utsunomiya, two late Japanese statesmen who committed their lives to improving relations between Japan and China.

Addressing a commemoration seminar, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan spoke highly of Saionji and Utsunomiya's contribution to promoting normalized relations and strengthening China-Japan friendship.

"Their glorious achievements and lofty spirit are indelibly engraved in the memories of the two peoples and are recorded in the history of China-Japan friendship," Tang said.

Utsunomiya was former head of Japan-China Friendship Association who devoted his life to promoting friendly ties with China.

Saionji was a former lawmaker who had made great contributions to the normalization of Japan-China relations. He was on friendly terms with former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

Both of Japanese men were granted the title of "friendship ambassador" by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Tang said since the normalization of China-Japan ties 34 years ago, the two countries have become closer, which has benefited the two peoples and contributed to peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at large.

He says bilateral ties are at a key period of development. "Under the efforts of both sides, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had made a successful visit to China last month, bringing bilateral ties back to normal track for development," the state councilor said.

"China is ready to work with Japan to promote exchanges and cooperation in an all-round way, and commit itself to realizing the goal of peaceful co-existence, long-term friendship, mutual-beneficial cooperation and common development," he said.

The state councilor also affirmed the irreplaceable role of non-governmental exchanges in promoting the resumption and development of bilateral ties. He called on both sides to conduct friendly exchanges and hand down China-Japan friendship from generation to generation.

Nearly 100 friendly people from the two countries attended the seminar.