[Shadow Kira01]

China's Xi vows to boost strategic ties with Japan

On the North Korean nuclear issue, Xi said China will continue to play a ''constructive role'' toward a resumption of the stalled six-party denuclearization talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

''China consistently supports denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a peaceful solution (to the issue) through dialogue,'' he said.

Xi said Beijing will seek to address Japanese consumers' concerns about Chinese-made food through a bilateral initiative aimed at ensuring food safety.

He was referring to a ministerial framework that Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in October agreed to set up in the wake of a case involving tainted Chinese-made frozen dumplings that made people ill in Japan.

Xi voiced hopes of developing ''friendly, neighborly ties'' with Japan. ''We would like to further develop our friendly, neighborly cooperative ties,'' he said.