On April 7, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao met with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi at Zhongnanhai.

Wen pointed out that China and Japan are countries of great influence in Asia and should adopt a broader perspective in order to enhance mutual trust and expand common interests.  

Wen said that, in the new century and faced with a new situation, the two countries should strengthen rather than weaken their friendly relations, should increase rather than reduce exchanges at all levels and should expand rather than scale down their cooperation in the fields of trade and economy. The Chinese government will continue to attach importance to and develop Sino-Japanese relations. He said the Chinese government hopes that, guided by the three political documents including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement signed between the two countries, the two countries will strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields, promote the traditional friendship between the two peoples and ensure that the friendship between the two peoples is passed down from one generation to the next.

Wen said that both countries should emphasize the importance of the consensus of "drawing lessons from history and looking ahead to the future" reached between them. The two countries should look ahead on the basis of a correct recognition of history so as to build a lasting good-neighborly relationship of cooperation.

Kawaguchi presented Wen with a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. She said the friendship between the two countries has a long history and a solid foundation and Japan-China relationship is very important. The Japanese side stands ready to consider and plan the further strengthening of its relations with China oriented toward the future on the basis of a correct recognition of history and in line with the principles set forth in the three political documents signed between the two countries. She said that China's rapid economic development and increasing influence in the world provide Japan with an opportunity. The two sides should expand common interests, increase bilateral cooperation and contribute to regional cooperation so as to benefit the people of the two countries.