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China-Japan leaders hold summit Landmark China-Japan deal agreed
(about 3 hours later)
On the first full day of his state visit to Japan, the Chinese President Hu Jintao has held talks with the Japanese PM, Yasuo Fukuda. China and Japan have signed a historic deal agreeing a "new starting point" in relations, after summit talks in Tokyo.
The two men agreed they would hold annual summits to strengthen ties between the two countries. China's President Hu Jintao and Yasuo Fukuda of Japan agreed a blueprint for future ties - including a yearly summit between the nations' leaders.
This is only the second state visit to Japan by a Chinese leader. The deal comes after years of strained relations, caused by rows over wartime history and offshore resources.
Relations between them have been strained over the past decade because of wartime history, and a dispute over territorial waters. Mr Fukuda also urged Mr Hu, on his first state visit to Japan, to continue trying to resolve the crisis in Tibet.
"The two nations agreed that Japan and China both share larger responsibilities for the world's peace and development in the 21st century," a joint statement issued after the summit read. The Japanese prime minister told reporters he "rated highly" Mr Hu's decision to hold talks with representatives of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
"Leaders of the two states will develop ways for regular exchanges, with one leader visiting the other in principle every year," it went on. But Mr Hu said the Dalai Lama would need to stop "acting to separate the homeland" and "inciting violent acts" for the talks to succeed.
Beijing has made similar allegations several times since recent unrest in and around Tibet. The Dalai Lama denies any role in the unrest and says he is not seeking independence for Tibet.
Positive viewPositive view
The deal signed by Mr Hu and Mr Fukuda was the fourth such agreement since 1972.
"The two nations agreed that Japan and China both share larger responsibilities for the world's peace and development in the 21st Century," a joint statement issued after the summit read.
We both believe relations between China and Japan are at a new starting point Hu Jintao
"Leaders of the two states will develop ways for regular exchanges, with one leader visiting the other in principle every year."
After the meeting, Mr Fukuda said the two leaders had pledged to work to resolve a dispute over gas deposits in the East China Sea.After the meeting, Mr Fukuda said the two leaders had pledged to work to resolve a dispute over gas deposits in the East China Sea.
Mr Hu says China and Japan must develop their strategic partnership
"We agreed a solution is in sight for the long pending issue of developing resources in the East China Sea as Japan and China have held meaningful discussions and made significant progress," Mr Fukuda told a joint news conference."We agreed a solution is in sight for the long pending issue of developing resources in the East China Sea as Japan and China have held meaningful discussions and made significant progress," Mr Fukuda told a joint news conference.
Mr Fukuda also said he had called on Beijing to continue holding talks with Tibetan leaders to ease international concerns about the situation there. Mr Hu also made upbeat comments to reporters following the talks.
"We both believe relations between China and Japan are at a new starting point," he said.
His visit is the first by a Chinese leader since 1998, when incumbent Jiang Zemin caused controversy by lecturing Japan's politicians on their country's wartime past.
China suspended high-level contact with Japan from 2001 to 2006 during the premiership of Junichiro Koizumi, who made repeated visits to the Yasukuni war shrine, a place most Chinese believe glorifies militarism.China suspended high-level contact with Japan from 2001 to 2006 during the premiership of Junichiro Koizumi, who made repeated visits to the Yasukuni war shrine, a place most Chinese believe glorifies militarism.
Mr Fukuda has promised not to visit the shrine while he is in power and has called for Japan to be humble about its past.Mr Fukuda has promised not to visit the shrine while he is in power and has called for Japan to be humble about its past.
The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo it is in the interest of each country to get along better with its near neighbour. China has now overtaken the US as Japan's top trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing 12% last year to $236.6bn.
China wants Japanese technology and investment to help develop its economy further, while Japan wants to sell more of its products to the Chinese, particularly as demand in other important markets like the United States slows, our correspondent says. And analysts say this increasingly important economic relationship has played a vital role in warming the ties between the two nations.
China has overtaken the US as Japan's top trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing 12% last year to $236.6bn.