(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-18 22:46

TOKYO - Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met here on Friday with Japanese House of Councillors President Satsuki Eda and House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono respectively.

Yang highly appreciated the two parliamentary chiefs' continued dedication to the Sino-Japanese friendship and their important contribution to the improvement and development of the bilateral ties.

Kono said the bilateral relationship has gone through difficulties and entered spring. The Japanese side is warmly expecting the visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Better bilateral cooperation built up through the visit will be not only beneficial to Japan and China, but Asia and the world, he said.

The Japanese House of Representatives would like to enrich the mechanism of communication with the Chinese congress to contribute to the development of bilateral ties, Kono added.

Eda expressed his earnest welcome over Hu's upcoming visit and believed the visit would be a success.

The two speakers also extended their good wishes to the Beijing Olympics.

During the day, Yang also met with leaders of key Japanese political parties.