By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-02-25 07:25

Sino-Japanese relations have reached a new historic starting point and are facing important development opportunities, high-level officials attending the Eighth China-Japan Strategic Dialogue have said.

Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Mitoji Yabunaka at the Eighth China-Japan Strategic Dialogue in Beijing February 22 2008. [China Daily]

The two-day dialogue, which concluded on Saturday in Beijing, mainly focused on boosting mutual strategic trust, according to the Foreign Ministry.

As President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in April, the first by a Chinese President in 10 years, approaches, the two delegations vowed to boost cooperation to ensure the visit's success and the healthy and steady development of Sino-Japanese relations.

They also pledged to strive for an early and proper settlement of the East China Sea issue.

Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Mitoji Yabunaka co-chaired the dialogue.

Wang said the dialogue has played an important role in overcoming obstacles in bilateral relations and establishing a framework for a mutually beneficial strategic relationship.

The strategic dialogue began in 2005 during the "frozen period" in bilateral ties, and the last one was held in China on Jan 27, 2007.

Yabunaka, who later met Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, stressed that China's development is an opportunity rather than a problem for Japan.

Zhou Yongsheng, an expert on Japan studies at China Foreign Affairs University said:"It (the dialogue) is a key element of the China-Japan cooperation mechanism."

At the same time, the dialogue also witnessed a mini climax in bilateral exchanges.

A regular meeting between the National People's Congress and the Japanese House of Councilors concluded last Wednesday.

State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan completed a four-day visit to Japan last week and a senior leader of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces will visit China this week.