Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto told Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian on Thursday that he hopes high-level exchanges in defense and other fields will deepen bilateral ties between Japan and China.
Hashimoto met Chi following an agreement Wednesday to initiate military exchanges with China, which bore the brunt of Japanese aggression in a series of conflicts that culminated in the Asian phase of World War II.
Hashimoto commented on the importance of deepening the bilateral relationship as Chinese President Jiang Zemin prepares for a visit to Japan in the fall, according to Foreign Ministry officials.