Chinese president wraps up "warm-spring" state visit to Japan

OSAKA, Japan, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded a five-day historic state visit to Japan, known as a "warm-spring" tour, and left Osaka for home Saturday.

During the visit, President Hu met with Japan's Emperor Akihitoand held talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on China-Japan relations and other issues of common concern.

After their talks, Hu and Fukuda signed a joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan.

The two sides agreed that the Sino-Japanese relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties for both countries, and China and Japan have great influence and shoulder solemn responsibilities for peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

The joint statement formulates the guiding principles for long-term development of bilateral relations and maps out the future for China-Japan relations.

Hu also had broad contacts with leaders of Japan's parliament and political parties and people from all walks of life in Japan. He delivered an important speech at Waseda University Thursday.

During his visit, Hu also traveled to Osaka and other places in the Kansai area, which includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga.

The Chinese president arrived in Tokyo Tuesday for the state visit to Japan, which was aimed at boosting strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two Asian nations.

TOKYO, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met Friday with leading members of Japanese lawmakers' league supporting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which is headed by Yohei Kono, speaker of Japan's lower house.

Expressing his thanks to the members, President Hu said the Beijing Olympics has got sincere regard and vigorous support from all circles of Japan. Full story

TOKYO, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Thursday with four former Japanese prime ministers and attended the inauguration of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of Youth in 2008.

While having breakfast with Yasuhiro Nakasone, Toshiki Kaifu, Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe, Hu said the China-Japan relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations for both countries.