By Le Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-08 09:39

China's President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who headed a 450-member Japanese delegation of the "Great Wall" Program at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, December 7, 2007. [Xinhua]

China and Japan should enhance pragmatic cooperation while properly handling disputes through equal consultations.

This was President Hu Jintao's message to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa, whom he met in Beijing on Friday.

Hu, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), spoke highly of the progress of Sino-Japanese relations over the past year. "They should be valued by both sides," he added.

"China is ready to work with Japan to push for the strategic relationship of mutual benefits so as to turn a new chapter for friendship and cooperation," Hu said.

Ozawa, who headed a 450-member Japanese delegation of the "Great Wall" Program, said he hoped the visit could strengthen links between the two peoples and intensify mutually beneficial cooperation. "This not only accords with the interests of Japan and China, but also benefits the region and the world at large," he said.

The DPJ delegation comprises 47 Japanese DPJ lawmakers and representatives from various circles of Japanese society, including former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata.

They are in Beijing at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

To date, more than 200 Japanese lawmakers and 1,500 Japanese people from various social circles have visited China through the "Great Wall" Program, founded in 1989.

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