BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong on Monday pledged to further advance China-Japan ties.

    "China would like to step up exchanges and cooperation with Japanese parties and friendship organizations," Zeng said in a meeting with Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Noda Takeshi.

    China-Japan relations have "clearly improved and developed" since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to China in October last year, Zeng said.

    Abe's landmark visit was widely seen as a "turning point" in China-Japan relations.

    This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations and will be a year of sports and cultural exchanges for the two countries.

    "This is a golden opportunity to develop relations," Zeng said.

    "It is the common responsibility and historic mission of governments, parties and statesmen in the two countries to improve China-Japan ties," the vice president said.

    Echoing Zeng's views, Takeshi ascribed the improving tie to the continuous efforts of leaders in the two countries.

    Takeshi, also chairman of the Japan-China Society, said the two countries should observe the principles and spirit of the three Japan-China political documents, take a long-term view and intensify mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

    Takeshi was in Beijing for a three-day visit as a guest of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.