Top military officials from China and Japan agreed on Wednesday to strengthen military ties as relations between the two Asian neighbours warm, state media said. Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and Japan's Self-Defence Force Chief of Staff Takashi Saito agreed to step up co-operation between the two militaries during talks here Wednesday, Xinhua news agency said.
"I hope the two sides can prudently and properly handle issues, deepen exchanges and co-operation, continue to consolidate the political basis of bilateral relations, and enhance mutual strategic trust," Cao was quoted as saying. Saito said he hoped that stronger ties between the defence departments of the two countries would strengthen high-level exchanges and enhance mutual trust and understanding, Xinhua said.
The two nations are this year celebrating the 30th anniversary of a key friendship treaty and have a series of high-level exchanges set up, including a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Japan in the coming months.
Relations between the two countries remain uneasy over Japan's brutal invasion of China during the 1930s and 1940s. China refused all high-level contact with Japan during the 2001-2006 premiership of Junichiro Koizumi due to his visits to a shrine venerating Japanese war dead, including war criminals. Relations began to improve in 2006 when Shinzo Abe replaced Koizumi as premier and put an emphasis on reaching out to China in his one-year tenure. In December last year, current Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited China and pledged to build on the recent thaw in relations.