BEIJING - Vice-President Xi Jinping on Friday pledged to boost the "long-term, healthy and stable" development of China-Japan relations.

Vice-President Xi Jinping (R) meets with DPJ Secretary-General Azuma Koshiishi in Beijing, March 23, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi made the remark while meeting with a delegation of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) headed by DPJ Secretary-General Azuma Koshiishi in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The DPJ delegation is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday.

Xi said bilateral exchanges and cooperation have seen remarkable progress since the two countries normalized their diplomatic ties 40 years ago, benefiting both nations and making positive contributions to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world.

He called on the two countries to enhance dialogue and mutual trust, boost mutually beneficial cooperation, expand people-to-people exchanges and jointly cope with regional and global challenges.

China-Japan relations are at a new starting point and face new opportunities for further development, he said, adding that China is ready to work with Japan to jointly advance bilateral ties.

Xi praised the important role of the CPC-DPJ exchange mechanism in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations.

Xi said he hopes the meeting between the two ruling parties will result in greater contributions to the reinforcement of bilateral trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Koshiishi said Japan is willing to work with China to promote the further development of bilateral strategic relations.

He said the CPC and the DPJ have conducted extensive dialogues and communication since the two parties established contact in 2006.

The DPJ is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the CPC in order to jointly advance bilateral ties, Koshiishi said.

Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Koshiishi on Friday afternoon.

Li said he hopes the two parties will make new contributions toward the improvement of national sentiment, friendship, reciprocity and development between both countries.

He also stressed the importance of peaceful co-existence and friendly cooperation in the 40 years since the normalization of bilateral ties.

Koshiishi said the DPJ is ready to continue exchanges with the Chinese side in order to promote bilateral cooperation and the development of relations between the two countries and two parties.