Top Chinese legislator meets former Japanese PM

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo met with former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, said the Chinese government has paid much attention to its relationship with Japan.

"The overall China-Japan relationship has kept a momentum of improvement and development since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited China last October," Wu said.

This momentum is welcomed by the people of China and Japan and the international community, he added.

Wu said the three political documents between the two countries should be observed to build political trust, expand substantial cooperation and promote healthy development of bilateral ties.

Stressing the people-to-people exchange is a fine tradition of the China-Japan ties, Wu called for more active exchanges between the two peoples, particularly the young people.

Kaifu, who served as Japanese Prime Minister from February 1990 to October 1991, said it is the common aspiration of the two peoples to develop Japan-China ties.

The 76-year-old Kaifu said good bilateral ties not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also helps safeguard regional and world peace and stability.

He said he would like to make efforts to the lasting friendship between the two countries.

Source: Xinhua