Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday congratulated the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the 70th anniversary of its founding, calling on the two countries to join hands in addressing regional and global issues and making contributions to the international community. 

Japan and China bear responsibility together for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, he stressed in a video message sent to the Chinese embassy to Japan.

The embassy held a reception in Tokyo on Thursday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, which comes on October 1. 

This year has been remarkable for both countries, Abe said in the video, noting that it not only marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, but also saw Japan enter the new Reiwa Era from the previous Heisei Era, following Emperor Akihito's abdication from the throne and his son Naruhito's ascension to it. 

Abe also recalled his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka in late June. The two leaders reached a 10-point consensus on promoting bilateral relations at the meeting, and Xi agreed in principle to pay a state visit to Japan next spring. 

Kong Xuanyou, the Chinese ambassador to Japan, said at the reception that China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to implement the consensus of the two countries' leaders and promote the development of bilateral ties along the right track. 

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Friday that Beijing appreciated Abe's message and believed it reflected the positive momentum of improvement in China-Japan relations. 

China is willing to continue to work with Japan to enhance positive exchanges and manage differences and conflicts in a constructive way so as to promote healthy and stable development in bilateral ties, he added.