The pledge came after a meeting between Tang Jiaxuan, head of the China-Japan Friendship Association and Tomiichi Murayama, former Japanese Prime Minister.

 

　　Tang Jiaxuan said it is of the two sides' interests to maintain healthy development of bilateral relations.

 

　　While Murayama said he hoped his visit could enhance communications between the two peoples and governments.

 

　　"The relationship between China and Japan doesn't only relate to the two countries, but also affects the peace and stabilization of Asia. I hope our two countries can develop dialogues in more areas including economy,"

 

　　Tomiichi Murayama is the third high-rank Japanese politicians visiting China in less than one month, following former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Japan's New Komeito Party.

 

　　Murayama was the first Japanese prime minister to apologize for Japan's past wrong-doings in 1995, at the 50th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

 

　　Yang Xiyu with China Institute of International Studies said that the frequent high-level exchanges show that there is a balanced force in Japanese politics.

 

　　"Extreme rightism has been making noise in Japan's politics recently, but there also exists pragmatic attitude seeking a stabilizing relation between China and Japan, if it is not advancing bilateral ties. We should watch it closely whether the current strategy can be adopted as Japanese government policy."

 

　　Meanwhile, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Association Koichi Kato is also in Beijing.

 

　　He said enhancing the friendly sentiments between the two peoples could help improve the relationship between the two countries.