Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for building China-Japan relations that fit the needs of the new era. 

He made the remarks in a phone conversation with new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. 

Noting China and Japan are close neighbors and important countries in Asia as well as the world, Xi said the two nations share broad common interests and a broad cooperation space. 

He pointed out that China-Japan relations have got back on track and are showing positive momentum. 

China is willing to work with the new Japanese government to properly handle history and other sensitive issues in accordance with the four political documents between China and Japan, Xi added. 

He urged the two sides to enhance mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and expand people-to-people exchanges. 

"I am willing to work with you to play a strategic leading role in promoting the new development of bilateral relations," Xi said. 

The Chinese president pointed out the essential requirement for the development of Sino-Japanese relations in the new era is to continuously expand common interests and better benefit the two peoples. 

As the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading across the world, Xi said the common policy choices for all countries is to fight against the pandemic, stabilize the economy and ensure people's livelihoods. 

The Chinese president believes that China and Japan can support each other to realize win-win results. 

He said the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has shown strong resilience and great potential. 

Xi told Suga that China is stepping up its efforts to establish a "dual circulation" development pattern in which the domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while the international cycle remains its extension and supplement. 

He hoped that the two sides can jointly maintain a stable and smooth industrial and supply chain and a fair and open trade and investment environment as well as improve the quality and level of cooperation. 

The Chinese president also wished Japan successful Olympic Games next year. Tokyo is hosting the games.

China and Japan bear the responsibility to maintain world peace and stability, Xi said, adding that they should adhere to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, actively advocate and practice multilateralism and firmly maintain the international order and international system with the United Nations as the core. 

He also called on two sides to strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation under international multilateral institutions and regional cooperation mechanisms, work together to address various global challenges and make positive contributions to the prosperity and development of Asia. 

Suga said Japan regards its ties with China as one of the most important bilateral relations globally, adding that stable ties are not only in line with the interests of the two peoples, but also conducive to world peace and prosperity. 

The Japanese prime minister recalled the two countries' mutual assistance during the fight against the pandemic. 

"I hope to maintain close communication with President Xi, work hard to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, deepen people to people exchanges, and push Japan-China relations to a new level," Suga added. 

He also said Japan is willing to closely communicate with China to ensure the signing of the regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement (RCEP) within the year, accelerate the negotiation of a Japan-China-South Korea free trade area, and jointly maintain the stability of the regional industrial and supply chain.