The youth of China and Japan should expand exchanges and increase mutual trust to make contributions to realizing the goal of Sino-Japanese long-term friendship, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said Friday in Beijing.

Tang made the remarks in his meeting with a Japanese delegation of the 13th Great Wall Program led by Okumura Tenzo, a Japanese congressman.

The Great Wall Program is a large-scale, people-to-people exchange activity between China and Japan. Tang spoke highly of the program's role in promoting mutual understanding between youth of the two countries and expanding their exchanges.

He said the Chinese government stresses and supports the youth of the two countries to enhance contacts and conduct various exchange activities.

Tang said due to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A

World War II war criminals, China-Japan relations have deteriorated. "Under such circumstances, the youth of the two countries should expand exchanges and contribute to the overall situation of Sino-Japanese ties with their real actions," he said.

The delegation is here at the invitation of the All-China Youth Federation.

Source: Xinhua