State Councilor Yang Jiechi shakes hands with Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of Japan's National Security Council, during the fourth high-level political dialogue between China and Japan on Monday, as Yang kicked off his three-day visit to Japan. Provided to China Daily

State Councilor Yang Jiechi started a three-day visit to Japan on Monday, co-chairing with Shotaro Yachi, head of the secretariat of Japan's National Security Council, the fourth high-level political dialogue between China and Japan.

Yang said the bilateral relationship faces new opportunities and challenges this year, which is the 45th anniversary of the normalization of relations between China and Japan.

Yang said that political trust is fundamental to a healthy, stable relationship between nations. The importance China attaches to developing its relations with Japan remains unchanged, and Japan needs to adapt to the trend of China's development, Yang said.

He suggested that Japan view China as a partner rather than a threat and said China's development is an opportunity.

Japan should be true to its word on history and Taiwan and play by the rules, Yang said. The two countries need to conscientiously abide the spirit of the four-point principled consensus and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the East China Sea.

On the South China Sea, Yang asked Japan to be cautious with its words and actions and play a constructive role when the nations concerned try to settle the relevant issues.

The Chinese official suggested that the two countries quickly upgrade their trade cooperation to a higher level. They need to work together for Asia's development and prosperity as the region aspires for peace and stability, he said.

He said China welcomes Japan's positive discussions on cooperating with China within the Belt and Road Initiative framework. The two nations need to make "painstaking" efforts to promote exchanges on all fronts.

Japan's Yachi said it is of great importance that Japan and China?- the two major nations in Asia?- cooperate. The two countries need to implement their consensus and not see each other as a threat but as a partner.