On the afternoon of May 7, 2008, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Tokyo separately with Japanese Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general Bunmei Ibuki, Japan's New Komeito president Akihiro Ota, president of the Democratic Party of Japan Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Communist Party of Japan Kazuo Shii and leader of the Japanese Social Democratic Party Mizuho Fukushima.

During the talks, President Hu said that China and Japan, as close neighbors and major powers in Asia and in the world at large, share vast common interests in international affairs and shoulder common responsibility in promoting regional and world peace and development. Promotion of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the world, but also conforms to the common aspiration of the two peoples and the general expectation of the international community, said Hu.

He said that China and Japan issued a joint statement on advancing the strategic and mutually beneficial relations, the fourth political document, which will serve as a guideline for the future development of China-Japan relations. Standing on the new historic threshold, China-Japan relations are facing new opportunities for further development, said the Chinese president, adding that China is willing to work with Japan to boost political mutual trust and promote cooperation in areas of economy and trade, environmental protection, energy, information, finance, humanities and global affairs as well as on youth exchanges so as to usher in a new prospect for all-round development of Sino-Japanese strategic, mutually beneficial relations.

Hu appreciated these political parties for attaching importance to and actively pushing forward bilateral ties. Hu said that while inter-party dialogues and communication are important parts of strategic bilateral dialogue, the two sides should make joint efforts to create new forms for exchange and communication, enrich their contents and raise them to higher levels so as to make new contributions to the Sino-Japanese strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

The party chiefs applauded Hu's visit and described the fourth political document as of historical significance. They expressed their willingness to make continued efforts to open up new prospects for the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Bunmei Ibuki said that pushing forward Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations is in the common interest of the two countries. He appreciated the Chinese government for implementing the scientific concept of development and for being committed to building a harmonious society and wished China's economic and social development to achieve new progress.

Akihiro Ohta said that the development of Japan-China relations is of great importance to Asia and the world at large. He expressed hope that the two sides will conduct more exchanges of high-level visits, promote exchanges of the younger generations of the two countries, and enhance bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Ichiro Ozawa expressed belief that Hu's current visit will further push forward bilateral ties and enhance the friendly sentiments between the two peoples. The Democratic Party of Japan is ready to contribute to more friendly Japan-China relations, he added.

Kazuo Shii said the Communist Party of Japan has conducted sound exchanges with the Communist Party of China (CPC), which helps promote relations between the two countries. The Communist Party of Japan firmly upholds correct handling of historical issues between the two countries and sticks to the one-China policy.

Mizuho Fukushima appreciated China's positive efforts in safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia, adding that the two countries should strengthen consultations and cooperation and jointly contribute to lasting peace of the region.

The party leaders also wished the Beijing Olympic Games an enormous success.