China optimistic about upcoming Wen´s visit to Japan

Source: CCTV.com | 03-23-2007 13:55

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is set to visit Japan in mid-April.

This would be the first such trip by a Chinese Premier in seven years. It follows a ground-breaking visit to Beijing in October by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao has hailed the upcoming visit as key to developing bilateral relations.

Liu Jianchao said, "As we say, this will be an ice-melting visit. We think this visit will further develop cooperation and mutual trust between the two countries. Currently, the Chinese people and the Chinese media all pay attention to Sino-Japanese relations. We think this is very good."

A delegation of senior Chinese legislators left for Tokyo in a visit just ahead that of Premier Wen's. Led by the vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Lu Yongxiang, they'll inaugurate a regular exchange mechanism between the NPC and the Japanese House of Councilors.

Editor:Du Xiaodan