By Chong Zi and Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-08 07:12

TOKYO: On the second day of his first visit to Japan as President of China, Hu Jintao continued to promote friendship and goodwill with Japanese politicians.

He met with some leaders of Japanese political parties yesterday afternoon after having a summit talk with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the morning.

"Talks and exchanges between parties of China and Japan are an important part of the strategic dialogue between the two countries," Hu said.

His meeting with the Japanese leaders was believed to help them have a better understanding of the Chinese leader and the country.

New Komeito head Akihiro Ohta said the development of bilateral relations between China and Japan is of great significance to Asia and the world. He hoped more visits by Chinese and Japanese leaders and talks between them will be encouraged in the future.

The group of politicians Hu talked with included Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) - Japan's main opposition party - Bunmei Ibuki, secretary-general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP); Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party; and Mizuho Fukushima, chairwoman of the Social Democratic Party.

Issuing the fourth political document on their relations, China and Japan are committed to developing contacts at all levels.

The bilateral relations plummeted to a record low between 2001 and 2006.

Fukuda is in a difficult domestic position in Japan, as support for his cabinet has plunged. The opposition parties are asking him to step down, and challenges are also coming from his own party. DPJ president Ozawa has even been calling for an early election. LDP secretary-general Ibuki has ruled out national elections before the G8 Summit on July 7-9.

"The Japanese public generally has realized the importance of its relationship with China, and any political leader will treasure the will of the people," Akio Takahara, a professor at the College of Law & Politics at Rikkyo University, Tokyo, said.

"Remember it was the hawkish Shinzo Abe who broke the ice and did much to improve the relationship," Takahara said. "It is very difficult to find any difference in the China policies of the LDP and the DPJ."

Yasushi Akashi, a senior Japanese diplomat and Untied Nations administrator, said the difficult position Fukuda is in should not affect him speaking on behalf of Japan as a whole in international relations.

"Fukuda attaches great importance to Japan's relations with China," Akashi said. "It is good that two top leaders will try to capitalize on this historical opportunity."

(China Daily 05/08/2008 page3)