BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday he is ready to join hands with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in playing a strategic guiding role to promote new development in the China-Japan relationship.

In a telephone conversation with the Japanese leader, Xi stressed that China and Japan are crucial close neighbors and partners for each other

In a telephone conversation with the Japanese leader, Xi stressed that China and Japan are crucial close neighbors and partners for each other.

As key players in Asia and the world, the two countries enjoy various common interests and wide cooperative space, he noted, adding that with joint efforts of the two sides, China-Japan relations have gotten back on track and maintained positive momentum.

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In line with the principles and spirit of the four China-Japan political documents, China stands ready to work with the new Japanese government to properly handle key sensitive issues including historical ones, continue to enhance political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and expand people-to-people exchanges amid efforts to build bilateral relations that meet the requirements of the new era, Xi stressed.