By Rong Xiandong/Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-03-12 11:05

Chinese president Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Japan in the near term, the first visit by Chinese President to the neighbor in the new century, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Beijing Wednesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answers a question at a press conference held on the sideline of the first session of the 11th National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 12, 2008. [Xinhua]

Yang said both Chinese and Japanese peoples expect President Hu's visit to Japan in spring, which is a beautiful season in Japan.

"There is no such an issue as postponement of President Hu's visit," said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session. Foreign affairs departments of the two countries are discussing details of the visit.

He made the remarks when answering questions from a Japanese journalist on whether President Hu's state visit to Japan, scheduled for this spring when cherries are in full bloom, would be postponed to some time after May.

"This visit will be a historic one, which will boost relations between the two countries," Yang said.

Through the visit, China hopes to improve the mechanism of exchanges to place the bilateral relations between the two neighbors on a long-term, health and stable development track.

On the East China Sea issue between China and Japan, Yang said the case is complex and he believes that it is undesirable to set a deadline for bilateral consultation.

Responding to the so-called "poisoned dumpling incident", Yang suggested more cooperation between Chinese and Japanese police departments for an earlier and just clarification of the case.

World athletes could try lucks in Beijing

Minister Yang said that air quality in Beijing is to become better and better, and he suggested world athletes "try their luck" in breaking world records during the coming summer Olympic Games five months later.

"The majority of the athletes who are going to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games are satisfied with the air quality, environment and sports facilities - they have full confidence in these conditions," Yang said.

"It is up to debate whether China is a major sports country or a world sports power, but there is one thing for sure that many Chinese athletes have broken world records in Beijing. So if they can't break world records elsewhere, maybe they can come to Beijing and try their luck here," he said.

The minister said China takes climate change seriously and Chinese Government has taken a full range of effective measures to tackle climate change.

"I believe air quality will become better in Beijing and in China," he said.

Last Saturday, Jacques Rogge，president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that China is making big strides in clearing up its air quality ahead of the 2008 Olympics.