BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) — Experts in international relations from Japan and China have warmly welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao’s “warm spring” visit to Japan and called for the implementation of tangible benefits of the visit.

    At a seminar here Thursday commemorating the 30th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Chinese and Japanese scholars exchanged views on Sino-Japanese relations.

    Hu’s visit laid a solid foundation for the development of relations, and the Japanese government and people felt his sincerity and efforts to improve relations, said Noda Takeshi, chairman of the Japan-China Society.

    He said the two sides should put the benefits of the visit into practice in a comprehensive and substantial way despite some difficulties, and build a solid foundation for the development of relations.

    Hu paid a state visit to Japan from May 6 to 10 at the invitation of Japanese government, during which he and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda issued a six-point joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.

    The statement, confirming the guiding principles for long-term development of Sino-Japanese relationship, has become the fourth important document between the two countries, with the other three being the China-Japan Joint Statement issued on Sept. 29, 1972, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed on Aug. 12, 1978, and the China-Japan Joint Declaration released on Nov. 26, 1998.

    The two countries also issued a joint press communique on boosting bilateral exchanges and cooperation, covering 70 cooperation projects.

    Yang Bojiang, an expert on Japanese studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the development of the bilateral relations still faced some problems.

    He suggested the two countries establish a dialogue and cooperation mechanism as soon as possible. Think tanks and non-governmental organizations should play an active role in promoting.

    The scholars also called for more exchanges and communication between the two peoples, so as to enhance their mutual understanding.

    Professor Yoshifumi Nakai, of Gakushuin University, said the two countries should carry out exchanges and communication among the elite and the public.

    Qinghua University research fellow Liu Jiangyong said the media of both countries should be active and constructive in developing relations.

    The seminar is co-hosted by the Chinese Institute of Foreign Affairs and Japanese Institute for International Peace Study.