China's top legislature, Japan's House of Councillors restart regular dialog

China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Japan's House of Councillors restarted a bilateral mechanism for regular exchanges in Beijing on Monday.

Vice-chair of the NPC Standing Committee Shen Yueyue, and member of House of Councillors Kensei Mizote co-chaired the sixth meeting of the mechanism for regular exchanges between China's top legislature and the upper house of the National Diet of Japan.

The two sides discussed a series of common concerns, including China-Japan relations, economic ties, environmental protection collaboration, people-to-people exchanges as well as some global and regional issues.

The meeting was previously slated for 2013 in Beijing, but was suspended due to deterioration of China-Japan ties.

During a meeting with the Japanese delegation later in the day, Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang said that resumption of the mechanism is expected to enhance mutual understanding, trust and help to improve relations between the two countries.

Zhang, chair of the NPC Standing Committee, said the China-Japan relationship still faces many complexities and challenges although contact and exchanges have been restored somewhat.

He called on the two sides to increase policy communication, properly handle sensitive issues and push forward exchanges and cooperation in various areas.

To achieve the constant improvement of bilateral relations, China and Japan must adhere to the four political documents reached by both countries in 1972, 1978, 1998 and 2008 as well as abide by the four-point principled agreement reached in November 2014, according to Zhang.

Members of the Japanese delegation expressed willingness to enhance exchanges with the NPC and contribute to improvement of Japan-China relations.