Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso arrived in Beijing on Apr. 29, beginning his first two-day official visit to China since he took office last September, according to news agencies.
The visit is aimed at strengthening mutual cooperation and trust.
During PM Aso's visit, he is expected to talk with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Apr. 29 evening and President Hu Jintao the next day.
He will exchange views with Chinese leaders on topics such as environment, energy, personnel exchanges, wireless communication, the ongoing international financial crisis, and regional security, Xinhua news agency said.
The two sides are scheduled to discuss Japan’s technical assistance project to China to push up measures on environmental protection and energy.
The Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry plans to allot about 5 billion yen (50 million USD) in the fiscal 2009 budget for the project due to cooperation in environment and energy fields is considered as one of the pillars of enhancing strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.
PM Aso aims to gain the Chinese leaders' support for an early resumption of the six-party talks on the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as well as for the issues of past abductions of Japanese nationals, according to Kyodo news.
The sides are expected to affirm cooperation to overcome the global economic crisis and discuss measures in response to the swine flu epidemic and agree to keep close contacts and consultations to prevent the epidemic, Kyodo said./.