At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay an official visit to China from October 25 to October 27, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang announced Friday at a news briefing.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech during a joint press announcement for the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo on October 9, 2018. (Photo: AFP)

“Japan is a significant neighbor of China. Under joint efforts by the two sides, China-Japan relations improve continually,” Lu said. “This is an official visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to China after a lapse of seven years, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.”

Chinese leaders and Shinzo Abe will hold talks and exchange opinions on the improvement and development of China-Japan relations as well as global and regional issues that concern the two countries, Lu said.

Lu stressed that China attaches great importance to China-Japan relations. “Deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two major global economies not only conforms to the interests of the two countries, but also promotes global economic and trade development,” He said.

Lu said that China hopes the two countries will expand their cooperation in trade, investment, finance, innovation and high technology, tapping complementary advantages. China also hopes the two countries will jointly develop third-party marketplaces, and jointly maintain multilateralism and the free trade system, and maintain an open world economy, he added.

“China hopes Abe’s visit will help improve the mutual political trust between the two countries and deepen communication and cooperation in all fields, and promote new development of China-Japan relations on the basis of coming back on track,” Lu said.

(Compiled by Zhan Huilan, Xu Zheqi and Han Xiaomeng)