Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao met with Kanzaki Takenori, party leader of Komei Party of Japan on November 22 and expressed the hope for cooperation and further development of peace between China and Japan.

Hu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), extended warm welcome to the Japanese guests.

He urged politicians and people of insight to promote bilateral relations and uphold the spirit of the China-Japan Joint Statement, the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty and the China-Japan Joint Declaration in the 21st century.

President Jiang Zemin paid a successful state visit to Japan last year. Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's visit to China was also successful during which the two governments published a joint declaration for the future development of bilateral ties.

Hu also congratulated the establishment of relations between CPC and Komei Party. "Friends from the Komei Party have had friendly ties with China for a long time and made important contributions to the normalization and further growth of bilateral ties".

Kanzaki Takenori told Hu his Party has made efforts to consolidate further relations between the two countries. For the long-term growth of Sino-Japanese friendly ties, his delegation included some young politicians. Kanzaki Takenori said his Party is determined to make every effort for a more solid bilateral relationship.

Kanzaki Takenori and his delegation have come to China as guests of the CPC.