China welcomes Japan to actively participate in BRI construction

World
Europe

01:52

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that Japan is welcome to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road alongside China's reform and opening-up.

President Xi made the remarks while meeting with Toshihiro Nikai, general secretary of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing ahead of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Nikai will attend the forum as the special envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Xi noted China-Japan ties are back on track and gaining positive momentum and hoped two sides can push forward bilateral ties on the basis of the principles set in their four political documents.

In the spirit of "cooperating in a mutual-beneficial way and never posing a threat to each other, the Chinese president hoped two sides can promote bilateral cooperation in various areas to higher level.

He also called on the two sides to safeguard multilateralism and uphold free trade and construct an open world economy.

Summit of the Group of 20 (G20) to be held in Osaka this year, President Xi voiced support for Japan to successfully host the summit.

As this year marks the China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year, Xi added two sides should sow the seeds of friendship among the two peoples specially among youths to promote people-to-people connections.

Nikai conveyed a signed letter from Abe to President Xi and said the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi is a grand idea with great potential.

Japan positively evaluates China's important contribution to the world and regions through this initiative, he added.