On August 8, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is here to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

During the meeting, Hu said the Beijing Olympic Games meets the aspiration of the Chinese people for the past 100 years. "Today, state leaders, personages from all walks of life and athletes from the five continents around the world gather here in Beijing to celebrate the grand opening of the Beijing Olympic Games along with the Chinese people," said Hu, adding that this demonstrates the Olympic spirit of unity, friendship and peace. "I wish to share the exciting time with you," Hu said. President Hu expressed gratitude for the support from the Japanese government and people in the course of Olympic preparations. He hoped that the two peoples will build mutual understanding and friendship through the Beijing Olympic Games and wished Japanese athletes good performance at the games.

Fukuda extended the Japanese people's congratulations to the Chinese for hosting the grand Olympic Games. "I've just visited main Olympic venues and felt the enthusiasm of Chinese people, "he said. He expressed belief that the Beijing Olympics, which goes beyond national boundaries, will enhance mutual understanding and trust among all peoples in the world.

Hu pointed out that to develop China-Japan strategic reciprocal relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples and is also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the world at large. "We are willing to work with the Japanese side to extensively implement the common grounds reached by leaders of the two nations and carefully maintain the hard-won good situation of China-Japan relations," said the Chinese president. China is ready to keep high-profile exchanges between the two countries and ensure the success of the second meeting of high-level economic dialogue mechanism, youth friendly exchange year and other activities in order to push forward the strategic partnership of mutual benefit.

Fukuda recalled that during President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan this May and the meeting between the two leaders in July in Toyako, both sides reached a range of important consensus. He hoped that both sides make joint efforts to well implement the consensus, enhance cooperation on environmental protection and energy, conduct youth and defense exchanges, ensure the success of the second meeting of high-level economic dialogue mechanism and improve communication and coordination in major international and regional issues.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.