Japanese PM meets Chinese students, emphasizing youth exchanges

Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday called for more youth exchanges during talks with Chinese students.

Abe, who is on a three-day official visit to China, held face-to-face communication with about 40 students from the elite Peking University Friday, saying it was the first time he had had a chance to exchange views with Chinese youth.

"The exchange between students is an important part of the foundation for the further development of Japan-China relations," Abe said, hoping the two sides to increase understanding and objective knowledge through frequent communication.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

"Over the past 40 years, the number of Chinese students studying in Japan has increased from 450 to 120,000 and the number of mutual visits jumped from 40,000 to 10 million," Abe said.

Japan and China have both agreed to designate next year as a "Japan-China Youth Exchange Promotion Year," and the two countries have decided to promote youth exchange of 30,000 students in the next five years.

Saying relations between Japan and China had returned to normal, Abe said there was enormous potential for the two countries to cooperate in the future.