China and Japan should push forward friendly exchange and co-operation in all fields to promote continuing good neighbourliness and friendship as well as to make due contributions to peace and development in Asia and the world, China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said yesterday.

"The two countries, both carrying considerable weight in Asia and the world, shoulder great responsibility for maintaining peace and promoting development," said Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, in a speech to dignitaries from the central region of Japan.

Sino-Japanese relations are entering a new stage, Wu said. Fields of co-operation are expanding as their interdependence increases and they share more and more common interests.

For example, statistics indicate that bilateral trade surpassed US$100 billion last year, and people-to-people exchanges reached a total of 3.68 million. In addition, the two nations now have some 220 pairs of sister cities.

Chinese people are ready to join the Japanese people in making greater efforts to promote friendly bilateral exchanges and co-operation to help the two countries continue as good neighbours and partners forever, Wu said.

To achieve this goal, Wu called for continued high-level dialogue and more efforts to promote mutual trust in the political arena. Leadership of the two countries should adopt regional, global and strategic perspectives in viewing and handling bilateral ties, Wu said.

Wu also called for the exercise of caution in dealing with issues of concern involving the two countries.

The two sides should abide by the principles enshrined in the three political documents signed between them and, by "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future," in order to resolve problems between them in a fair and proper way.

Wu stressed that China's development will pose no threat to other countries, and it will strive to safeguard regional and world peace.

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