China's guidelines on promoting its friendly and cooperative relations with Japan have not changed despite the severe difficulties that continue to exist in current bilateral relations, said a senior official in Beijing Tuesday.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remarks at a meeting with Yamazaki Taku, former vice president of Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

"We admire the considerable work done by Yamazaki, an old friend of the Chinese people, in boosting the China-Japan relations," said Wang.

"The guidelines put forward by the CPC and the Chinese government on developing the Sino-Japanese relations remain unchanged although the current bilateral ties are confronted with severe difficulties," he stressed.

Yamazaki said Japan should cherish relations with China and exchange views with China as its friend.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with the heads of seven Japan-China friendship organizations in Beijing on March 31, stressing that the Chinese government has a "clear", "consistent" and "unswerving" stance on its relations with Japan.

Wang said the President hopes the Japanese people will understand the positive stance and sincere willingness of Chinese leaders to improve bilateral relations. He also hopes Japanese leaders will remove obstacles so as to push forward bilateral ties.

Source: Xinhua