BEIJING, Sept. 8 -- Mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and Japanese people could help improve ties, China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng said Friday.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when meeting with a visiting Japanese delegation for a reception on the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

Delegates including Yohei Kono, former speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives and current president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade, attended the reception, the first of its kind in 10 years.

Yu called on both sides to boost cooperation while "taking history as mirror and looking into the future."

Complex factors still remain in ameliorating bilateral relations, Yu said, stressing that Japan should abide by the four political documents and the four-point principled consensus between the two countries.

Yu said China hoped Japan would adopt a more positive policy towards China, properly handle sensitive issues and improve bilateral ties with responsible attitude and actions.

Kono called on people of Japan and China to continue the political wisdom and courage of the two countries' leaders who strove to normalize ties 45 years ago.

Kono was a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. He is most well-known for an official statement he made as chief cabinet secretary in 1993 when he admitted to Japan's historical use of "comfort women," women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II, and offered an apology to the victims.