Chinese President Hu Jintao (1st R) meets with Japan's House of Councilors President Chikage Ogi in Beijing, China, on Oct. 17, 2006.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday highlighted the upturn in China-Japan relations, saying the two countries need to fulfill their pledge to advance bilateral relations.

Hu made the remarks in a meeting with Japan's House of Councilors President Chikage Ogi, who is paying a three-day visit to Beijing.

Ogi's visit comes a week after Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first Japanese leader to visit China in five years, held talks with Chinese leaders in Beijing, a visit President Hu described as a "turning point" in diplomatic relations.

China and Japan reached a consensus on overcoming the political obstacles affecting bilateral relations and promoting development of friendly cooperation, said Hu.

"Under joint efforts from China and Japan, Abe made his first visit to China a success and refreshed relations between the two countries," Hu told Ogi.

"China will work with Japan to implement the important consensus reached by the two sides and push forward China-Japan relations in a stable and healthy manner," Hu added.

Ogi and China's top legislator Wu Bangguo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, officially launching a regular exchange mechanism between the two top legislative bodies.

Hu said the parliamentary exchanges were an important part of China-Japan friendly cooperation and would offer a new platform for exchanges between the legislatures.

The Chinese government supports exchanges and cooperation between the NPC and Japan's House of Councilors, said Hu.

Japan highly values relations with China, said Ogi, the first female upper house president in Japanese history, adding Japan-China friendship will not only benefit the two nations, but also contribute to peace and stability in Asia and the world.

Source: Xinhua