A visit of hope and expectation

Yoshihiko Noda could usher in a new era of cooperation and mutually beneficial relationship between China and Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who assumed office in September, begins his first official visit to China on Christmas. His visit will be followed keenly by Chinese and Japanese people and media, and not without reason they expect it to bring some Christmas and New Year gifts.

According to the Japanese media, Noda's meetings with Chinese leaders are likely to cover issues such as restarting talks on common exploitation of gas and oil in the East China Sea, establishment of a maritime crisis management mechanism and easing of China's restrictions on import of Japanese food products. Also, Japan would like to see a rebound in the number of Chinese tourists to the pre-earthquake level and get an assurance from China on the supply of rare earth in 2012.