On June 27, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Toronto.

President Hu pointed out that China and Japan, both important countries in Asia and the world, are close neighbors to each other and they share broad common interests in regional and international affairs. To develop China-Japan relations of long-term stability and good-neighborly friendship conforms to the fundamental interest of both countries and their peoples and is also a widespread aspiration of the international community. Hu said the China-Japan relations now maintain a generally sound momentum of development, and leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent contacts. Substantial progress has been made in bilateral cooperation, and the two sides have maintained close communication on regional and international issues, Hu said.

Hu expressed appreciation to the Democratic Party of Japan and the new Japanese government for their efforts to give importance to the China-Japan relations. He said China also places importance on the bilateral ties. President Hu added China is ready to work with Japan to seize the current opportunity to push for the sustained growth of the mutually beneficial relationship of strategic importance on the basis of the four political documents signed by both sides.

Hu put forward five proposals on further advancing bilateral ties. First, the Chinese president said the two countries should increase high-level communication so as to enhance strategic trust and confidence. He said leaders of the two countries should maintain close contact and help promote extensive dialogue and exchanges between the governments, political parties, parliaments and defense authorities of both countries. Second, Hu said the two countries should expand trade and deepen economic cooperation so as to realize mutual benefits and win-win outcome for both sides. He said the two countries should fully utilize the mechanism of the high-level economic dialogue to advance the growth of bilateral trade and economic cooperation in a stable way. He said the two sides should step up cooperation in the areas of energy, environment, recycling economy and high technology, so as to advance the transformation and upgrading of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Third, the Chinese leader said the two countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation on regional and international affairs, and expand common interests. Hu said the two sides should join hands in maintaining peace and stability in the Northeast Asia region and pushing forward regional cooperation and development of the East Asia region. They should also carry out dialogues, coordination and cooperation on the global challenges of international financial crisis and climate change. Fourth, Hu said the two countries should expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges, so as to strengthen the popular support for the China-Japan relations. He said the two sides should persist in carrying out exchanges among their young people, media, cultures, cities and non-government groups in a bid to continuingly enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, especially the young people of both countries. Fifth, Hu said the two countries should properly handle the sensitive issues between them. He said as neighbors of close contact, it is inevitable for China and Japan to see problems and disputes in bilateral relations. He urged both sides to proceed from the overall situation to handle these issues in a cautious, proper way and prevent them from affecting the stable growth of the bilateral relations.

Kan said he is delighted to meet President Hu as the prime minister of Japan. He said the new Japanese government attached great importance to the development of the Japan-China relations, adding that this is not only very important for both countries, but also of great significance to peace and development of Asia. Kan said his government will advance the Japan-China relations according to the principles and spirit of the four political documents. He said Japan is ready to work with China to further enrich the strategic connotations of bilateral relations by advancing high-level exchanges and exchanges between their political parties, parliaments and various government departments. He said Japan is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China in various fields, expand the mutually beneficial and win-win economic cooperation and trade, and increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges, especially the exchanges between the young people. Kan said the Japanese government is ready to work with China to push forward regional cooperation in East Asia and properly handle the problems arising in the development of the bilateral ties.

Kan added the four political documents signed by the two countries still have viability today.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation of the Korean Peninsula.

Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, Dai Bingguo and other officials attended the meeting.