TOKYO: Sino-Japanese relations are facing new opportunities for further development, President Hu Jintao said in the Japanese capital yesterday.

In a written statement issued at the airport upon his arrival in Tokyo, Hu said both China and Japan are important countries in Asia and in the world, and "the development of a long-term, stable and good neighborly friendship between China and Japan is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples".

The Chinese president's arrival kicked off a five-day "warm spring" trip to Japan, aimed at boosting strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two nations.

In the statement, Hu said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and that China-Japan relations are faced with new opportunities for more development.

The president expressed the hope that his visit will help enhance mutual trust, strengthen friendship, deepen cooperation and build programs for the future. He added that China will work together with Japan to open up new prospects for comprehensivelypushing forward China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial ties.

Hu said he will meet with Japan's Emperor Akihito, conduct an in-depth exchange of views with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on bilateral relations and other issues of common concern, and have extensive contact with Japanese people from different walks of life.

Xinhua

(China Daily 05/07/2008 page2)