Chinese premier calls for close ties with Japan

TOKYO - Visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Sunday called for deepening ties with Japan, playing down “problems and misunderstandings between the two countries”.

Addressing a gathering here, Wen said: “Although there are problems and conflicts between the two countries, and some misunderstanding between the two peoples, I am confident the China-Japan friendship is rooted among the two peoples and we must inherit and push forward the friendship.”

Wen arrived in Tokyo Sunday afternoon, kicking off his official visit to Japan. This is his second visit to the country since 2007, Xinhua reported.

“China-Japan relations have made progress in the past three years and on track of healthy development,” Wen told the representatives of China-Japan friendship groups.

Both countries need to jointly promote cooperation in various fields to overcome difficulties and seek common development, he said.

He is expected to sign bilateral agreements on food safety, energy conservation, environmental protection and e-commerce during his visit.