国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese official calls for improving China-Japan relations

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng called on a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers here on Thursday to make continuous contributions to improvement of relations between the two countries.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told the delegation of Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union that China has been always committed to a peaceful, friendly and cooperative relationship with Japan on the basis of the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future."

The Japanese delegation was led by Masahiko Komura, Vice President of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The growth of China-Japan exchanges and cooperation in various fields has been hard-earned and should be cherished, Yu said, noting that this year marks the 45 anniversary of normalization of relations between the two countries.

Japan should abide by the four political documents between the two countries and their four-point principled agreement, as well as properly deal with major issues related to history and Taiwan, so as to safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan ties, according to Yu.

Yu hoped the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union would continue to play an active role in China-Japan exchanges.

The Japan-China relationship has maintained momentum of improvement since leaders of the two countries reached consensus on promoting bilateral ties, Komura said, stressing that the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union is willing to make further efforts.