Chinese Foreign Minister Liang Guanglie began Friday a five-day visit to Japan by meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Liang hopes to build defense cooperation between the two countries during discussions with Japanese officials, Xinhua, the official Chinese government news agency, reported. He told Hatoyama China and Japan need more exchanges of personnel. The Chinese minister also met with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, UPI quoted Xinhua as saying. "It"s important to deepen mutual understanding, boost confidence and advance comprehensive, strategic and mutually beneficial ties between Japan and China for the peace and prosperity of East Asia," Kitazawa said.
