BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday met with a group of Japanese senior reporters, calling on joint efforts from both countries to properly settle sensitive issues and push forward China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial ties.

    Hailing the achievements in bilateral relations over the past 35 years, Tang said the two countries are confronted with important opportunities to improve and enhance their relationship.

    China is ready to make joint efforts with various circles of Japan to boost bilateral exchanges, increase trust, and handle important and sensitive issues in an appropriate way, the state councilor said.

    Shima Osamu, former editor-in-chief of the Japanese Daily Yomiuri and head of the Japanese delegation, said he was glad to see the great progress of Japan-China relations in the past 35 years as well as China’s achievements in its reform and opening-up.

    The Japanese senior reporters vowed to make concerted efforts with their Chinese counterparts to promote even closer bilateral ties.

    These Japanese reporters had accompanied former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei to visit China in 1972 and witnessed the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic ties.