President Xi meets with foreign dignitaries

Japan

While meeting with Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Xi said China welcomes Japan to continue to participate extensively in its reform and opening-up, and hopes to see its Asian neighbor play a more active role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Xi noted that bilateral ties have returned to the right track and are seeing positive development momentum.

He said it is important for the two countries to stick to principles of the four political documents and called for both nations to remain committed to the general direction of peace and friendship and continuously deepen win-win cooperation.

Xi added that China and Japan must carry out the political consensus of being cooperative partners instead of threatening each other and that they must support each other's peaceful development.

As this year is China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year, Xi urged enhanced friendship between young people of the two countries.

Xi also voiced China's support for Japan's hosting of the G20 Summit in Osaka this year.

Nikai hailed the Belt and Road Initiative as a great vision with great potential, adding that Japan speaks positively of the important contributions from the initiative to the region and the world.

Nikai is the special envoy for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.