Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda held talks Sunday afternoon on China-Japan ties and Korean Peninsula situation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China and Japan should be good neighbors and partners rather than opponents, Wen said.

Wen said that peaceful coexistence, long-term friendship from generation to generation, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development between China and Japan are in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and also beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the whole world.

The four political documents of China and Japan are the overall conclusion of the historical experience and lessons, Wen said, adding that each principle should be abided by while the problems and divergences should be properly resolved.

Wen urged a stable, healthy and long-term China-Japan relationship.

As implications from the current global financial crisis continue to spread and the complexity and severity of the world and regional situations are worse than expected, Wen said, it is necessary and possible that China and Japan join efforts to address the challenges and deepen strategic reciprocal ties.

He also urged the two nations to take effective measures to accumulate mutual trust in order to make solid foundation for extending cooperation.

Wen called on both countries to seize the opportunity to promote the dialogue and communication in bilateral, regional and international affairs.

Wen called on the two countries, which are commemorating the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties, should take the opportunity to hold friendly exchange activities between the two peoples, so as to strengthen cultural, educational, media and youth exchanges.

Noda said he was "glad" to make the China visit ahead of the 40th anniversary, hoping his visit to play an important role in deepening Japan-China strategic reciprocal ties.

He highlighted the political mutual trust as the major foundation for the development of bilateral ties, saying China's development is an opportunity for Japan and other countries.

Japan is ready to continue to strengthen high-level visits and exchanges between political parties, parliaments and peoples of both countries, make closer communication and cooperation with China on major regional and global issues, join hands with China in coping with challenges, and make active efforts for the development of Japan-China relations and regional peace and stability, Noda said.

He also vowed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, environmental protection, finance, and post-disaster reconstruction.

Wen said China hopes to intensively study with Japan on the development direction, critical areas and effective measures for the Sino-Japanese economic cooperation under the current situation and resolve related problems through negotiations.

Wen urged both countries to further improve cooperation in energy conservation, environmental protection, green economy, low carbon economy and high technologies.

Wen said China is willing to work with Japan in promoting the direct use of their respective currencies in bilateral trade.

Wen added that China also hopes to accelerate the process of building a free trade zone among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea as well as to boost East Asian monetary and financial cooperation.

China will continue to support and participate in Japan's post-disaster reconstruction, Wen said, adding that the two sides could strengthen experience exchange and explore pragmatic cooperation in disaster prevention and reduction as well as in nuclear power safety control.

The two leaders also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, saying maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula is in the common interests of all countries and parties concerned.

They hoped that relevant parties could continue to join hands to facilitate an early resumption of the six-party talks, resolve related issues through dialogues and consultations, promote peace and stability on the peninsula and realize the long-term stability in the region.

Yutaka Yokoi, press secretary of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Sunday night at a press briefing after the talks, the meeting between the two leaders was "warm, friendly, substantial and straightforward."

After the hour-long talks, the two leaders also attended the signing of two deals including a document on youth exchanges and a memorandum of understanding on the launch of a China-Japan investment fund on energy conservation and environmental protection, Yokoi said.

Yokoi said the two governments will carry out a series of projects next year to promote mutual understanding, such as inviting thousands of young people from each other.

Yokoi said the two leaders also talked about a high-level bilateral mechanism on consulting maritime affairs for East China Sea and coordinating marine search and rescue.

Yokoi also mentioned a Japanese request, which was raised at the Noda-Wen talks, for leasing any giant panda from China.

Prior to the talks, Premier Wen hosted a welcome ceremony for Prime Minster Noda, who has paid his first China visit since taking office in September.

During his two-day official visit, Noda will also meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo.

(CNTV.cn, Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2011)