Japan to Deepen Ties with China: Ozawa

Beijing, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)--Japan will be able to enhance its ties with China if the Democratic Party of Japan grabs a majority in the House of Councillors in an election next summer, DPJ Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa said Thursday.

The victory in the Upper House election will empower the Japanese
ruling party to discuss bold measures to deepen relations between the two
neighboring countries, Ozawa said at a meeting here with Chinese President
Hu Jintao.
China has steadily reinforced its ties with Japan since the DPJ
grabbed power in the House of Representatives election in August, Hu said at
the 30-minute meeting.
Recalling that he already has met Japanese Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama three times, Hu gave high marks to the Hatoyama government's
stance of putting diplomatic emphasis on Asia by saying reciprocal
relationship Japan and China has entered a new phase.
Ozawa and Hu agreed to strengthen the two countries' ties by
promoting exchanges between the DPJ and the Communist Party of China.
Ozawa is visiting here with some 140 DPJ lawmakers and 460
supporters.
He met with Hu for the first time since May 2008. The day's meeting
was also attented by Azuma Koshiishi, head of the DPJ's Upper House members,
and DPJ Diet affairs chief Kenji Yamaoka.
Ozawa alone will move on to South Korea Friday for talks over
dinner with President Lee Myung Bak the following day.