On May 7, 2008, after their official talks, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda jointly met with the journalists and took their questions in Tokyo.

Hu said he and Fukuda exchanged views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern in a frank and friendly atmosphere and reached broad consensus. Both leaders believe China and Japan, as close neighbors and important players in Asia and the world, must seek a path of peace, friendship and cooperation, Hu said. The Chinese president said that Sino-Japanese relations are at a historical new starting point and face new opportunities for further development, urging both sides to work together to open up new prospects for their strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Hu spoke highly of the fourth political document between the two countries, describing it as a new development in bilateral ties and a crystallization of new consensus between the two sides. Based on the previous three political documents, the joint statement formulates the guiding principles for long-term development of bilateral ties and maps out the future for China-Japan relations, Hu told reporters. The Chinese leader said he believes that under the guidance of the four political documents, China and Japan will surely be able to open up a brighter future for their relations.

When answering the question related to China-Japan cooperation in Asia, Hu said China and Japan, as important countries in Asia, shoulder significant responsibility for development and peace of Asia. The two countries should not only develop but are fully capable of developing their cooperation in all areas as well as China-Japan strategic mutually beneficial relations. China is ready to work with Japan to be committed to safeguarding peace and stability of Northeast Asia, advancing the process of the six-party talks and pushing for the establishment of a peace and security mechanism in the region. Hu said China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Japan on East Asia cooperation, give play to respective advantages and advance "10 plus 3" and other cooperation mechanisms so as to promote in-depth development of East Asia cooperation. China is ready to work with Japan to make full use of various regional and sub-regional cooperative mechanisms, promote exchanges among all Asian countries on culture, tourism, youth and personnel training and build up mutual understanding and trust among people from these countries.

On the issue of joint exploration of oil and natural gas resources in the East China Sea, Hu said the foreign ministries of the two countries have held in-depth consultations in accordance with the consensus between leaders of the two countries. Major progress has been made with a solution in view, Hu said, adding he is happy with the development. Both sides have decided to step up consultations so as to reach an agreement as early as possible, he said.

As for the dumpling poisoning case, Hu said that China attaches great importance to food safety and the people's health, adding the departments concerned of the Chinese government have conducted serious and thorough investigations into the case and made timely exchange of views with the relevant Japanese departments. Hu said China and Japan will continue investigations in an effort to find the truth at an early date.

Hu said officials from China's central government made contacts recently with private representatives of the Dalai Lama, and the next round of contact will be held at an appropriate time. "Our attitude toward contact and consultation with the Dalai Lama is serious. We hope that the Dalai Lama side will take concrete actions to show its sincerity by genuinely stopping activities aimed at splitting the motherland, instigating violence and disrupting the Beijing Olympics so as to create conditions for further consultation," Hu said. "We hope the contact will yield positive results," Hu added.

Fukuda spoke highly of the consensus between leaders of the two countries, vowing to make joint efforts with Chinese side to implement the consensus and to promote the development of strategic and mutually beneficial ties between the two countries. Wishing the Beijing Olympic Games a complete success, Fukuda said the Games is of great significance not only to China, but to the whole world.