Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's "ice-melting visit" to Japan last week had been a success.

The visit was successful and the two leaders reached much consensus, effectively boosting the building of the nations' strategic relationship based on common interests, Abe said.

Abe made the remarks at his official residence during a meeting with a Chinese foreign affairs academic delegation, which is in Japan for a two-day symposium which started Thursday on ties.

Abe described the symposium as fruitful and timely, as this year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan, adding that he hopes such academic events could be held regularly in the future.

At the symposium, experts from China and Japan exchanged views on such topics as cooperation, political and security situations in Asia, and prospects for regional cooperation.

During the three-day visit, the two sides signed a joint press communique, in which the content of the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries has been made clear and a series of measures to promote cooperation in all areas have been introduced.

Wen also delivered a speech on Sino-Japanese friendship and cooperation with the Japanese parliament, the first by a Chinese leader in 22 years.

Source: Xinhua