Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Monday and they discussed ways to further develop the strategic mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Xi arrived in Japan earlier in the day. His visit is the first by a Chinese state leader since the new Japanese government took office in September.

"The Chinese government and Chinese leaders attach great importance to China-Japan relations and the purpose of my visit is to further improve the strategic mutually beneficial relationship," Xi said during the meeting.

He added that since the new government of Japan took office in September, China-Japan relations have demonstrated a positive new start. The development of bilateral ties will not only benefit the two countries, but will also help promote peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.

At present, the two countries are facing new opportunities to build up a strategic and reciprocal relationship, he said.

Hatoyama said he has met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on a number of occasions since he took office, and this time he was playing host to Vice President Xi. All this is very important to the future development of China-Japan relations, the Japanese prime minister added.

China will continue to work with Japan to tackle the global financial crisis and bring bilateral trade and mutual investment back on the track of stable growth, Xi said.

Hatoyama also expressed Japan's willingness to continue cooperation with China in such areas as energy conservation, environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

On regional cooperation, Xi said the concept of "the East Asia Community" put forward by Hatoyama is a common goal of all countries in the region. China and Japan, as big Asian powers, should strengthen cooperation and play leading roles in promoting Asian cooperation.

Hatoyama said enhancing trust and cooperation among Asian countries is important to both Asia and the world. As a member of the Asian community, Japan should forge closer ties with other countries in the region and to realize an "East Asia Community" based on fraternity.

Xi also briefed Hatoyama on China's stance on issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang, stressing that these issues concern the core interests of China.

Hatoyama expressed understanding of and respect for China's stance on these issues, and said Japan should have the courage to face up to history and strive to build future-oriented relations with China.

Earlier in the day, Xi and Takahiro Yokomichi, speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, attended the inauguration of a Chinese cultural center in Tokyo, a showroom which is aimed at providing information on China and hosting various cultural exchange activities.

During his stay in Tokyo, Xi will meet Emperor Akihito, hold a series of meetings with lawmakers from Japan's ruling and opposition parties as well as Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. He will also visit Fukuoka.

Japan is the first stop of Xi's four-nation Asian tour. He will also visit the Republic of Korea (ROK), Myanmar and Cambodia.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2009)