TOKYO, Oct 23 Kyodo Leaders of Ja...

TOKYO, Oct 23 Kyodo

Leaders of Japan and China pledg Thursday to strengthen bilateral ties to establish a future-oriented relationship onward the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the implementation of a peace treaty between the sum of two units countries.

In a literal sense addressed to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said that the treaty ''has played an important part as a basis of bilateral relations.''

He also said that he will make further efforts to boost bilateral relations toward a just discovered era.

Wen said in a epistle to Koizumi that China has made efforts to advance the bilateral relationship based forward the treaty.

He, however, reiterated the importance of correctly dealing with history.

''I believe that bilateral relations will be boost in a healthy and stable manner'' as extended as the two sides maintain a stance that the relationship will be future-oriented while reflecting history, Wen said.

The couple premiers met earlier this month in Indonesia forward the sidelines of summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners -- Japan, China and southern Korea.

Wen asked Koizumi to visit China at an appropriate time after creating ''a upright atmosphere.'' He did not touch upon the contentious issue of Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, where war criminals are enshrined along with Japan's war dead.

China has always earnestly protested against visits by Japanese premiers to the shrine, which it regards as a emblem of Japan's wartime and prewar militarism. Koizumi's visits to the Shinto shrine are seen as the reason China has ejected proposals that he visit Beijing.

Koizumi asked Wen to visit Japan at an early date.

The brace countries signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship forward Aug. 12, 1978, six years after the September 1972 restoration of ties.

The peace treaty took result Oct. 23, 1978.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also exchanged literal meanings to celebrate the anniversary.

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