Li said advancing China-Japan strategic and mutually-beneficial ties was the consensus of both nations and a principle of China's government.

　　"As China-Japan ties face important opportunities of progress, both sides should follow the spirit of the four political documents signed between the two countries, and promote mutually-beneficial cooperation so as to ensure the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties," Li said.

　　Ishii is leading a delegation to China for celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of friendly ties between Toyama Prefecture and northeast China's Liaoning Province.

　　Li said friendly exchanges between provinces and prefectures constituted an important part of China-Japan ties and would help consolidate the social foundations of bilateral ties.

　　Ishii said exchanges and cooperation between Toyama and Liaoning had been making new headways continuously over the last 25 years and that Toyama was ready to further expand this tie to make new contributions to Japan-China relations.