China will stick to the policy of actively developing the relationship with Japan, which is also an important component of China's foreign policy, China's top consultant Li Ruihuan said in Tokyo Thursday.

Li, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), reaffirmed China's consistent policy when meeting with Soichiro Ito, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Juro Saito, president of the House of Councilors, of the Japanese Diet (parliament).

China and Japan are close neighbors and important countries in the region. To further strengthen friendly relations and deepen mutual cooperation will conform to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and benefit peace and stability in the region and the world at large, Li said.

During the meeting, Li also briefed them on the basic policy of China's multi-party cooperation featured by "long-term co-existence and mutual supervision." Li quoted Deng Xiaoping as saying that a political party needs to hear different voices.

The two parliament leaders extended congratulations to China on the forthcoming resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Macao and great achievements China has scored since the introduction of the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world. They also shared the view of promoting exchanges with the CPPCC.