Chinese Vice-President Meets Japanese Visitors ����Chinese vice-President Hu Jintao called on the youth of China and Japan to carry forward the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship initiated by the older generation of leaders, and strengthen exchanges and enhance mutual understandings in order to make new contributions to the development of bilateral friendship. ����Hu made these remarks on January 7 while meeting with a delegation of young members of Japan's House of Councilors, led by Kosei Ueno. ����Pointing to the successful state visit to Japan by Chinese president Jiang Zemin not long ago, Hu said that Jiang's visit was conducted in the spirit of learning lessons from history and facing up to the future. ����During that visit, the two sides reviewed positive and negative experiences in the development of Sino-Japanese relations, and defined the future direction for the development of bilateral ties, an exchange of profound pragmatic and historic significance, added Hu. ����He pointed out that past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future, and the most important element for bilateral friendship from generation to generation is to have a correct understanding of history. ����As long as the two sides adhere to the principles enshrined in the Sino-Japanese joint statement, the bilateral treaty of peace and friendship and bilateral joint declaration, and make concerted efforts, they are bound to bring a sound, steady and growing Sino-Japanese good-neighborly friendship into the 21st century. ����Ueno said that President Jiang's successful state visit to Japan last year marks a new phase for bilateral ties, and that young statesmen of various Japanese parties will strengthen exchanges with China and deepen their understanding of China to development of bilateral friendship. ����The delegation arrived in Beijing Wednesday for a goodwill visit to China as guests of the China-Japan Friendship Association. ���� HomeNews 1999-01-08 Page1