Japanese Emperor Akihito tells visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang he hopes for improved ties.Japan's Emperor Akihito told visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday (May 10) that he hopes Sino-Japan relations will continue to improve, and be marked by "goodwill and friendship".

His comments, according to the Imperial Household Agency, were in response to Mr Li, who conveyed his hopes that his visit - the first by a Chinese premier in nearly eight years - will be the impetus for a "long-lasting and stable relationship".

Emperor Akihito, who will abdicate the throne on April 30 next year, is known to be well-regarded by Chinese citizens for his active efforts to soothe the wounds of a war fought in the name of his father Hirohito

Japan's Emperor Akihito told visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday that he hopes Sino-Japan relations will continue to improve, and be marked by "goodwill and friendship".

Akihito tells Li he hopes for better bilateral relations

李克強首先轉達習近平主席對明仁天皇的誠摯問候。李克強表示，今年正值中日和平友好條約締結40周年。中方希望通過這次訪問，重溫締約精神，推動中日關係重回正常軌道並取得新的發展。

我此訪期間，同安倍首相、國會眾參兩院議長、各黨派和日本各界人士見面，還將去北海道訪問促進兩國地方交流，希望同日方共同推動中日關係長期健康穩定向前發展。中方願同日方加強人員往來，不斷鞏固兩國關係的民意基礎，增進兩國人民之間的理解和情感。

明仁天皇表示，很高興李克強總理在這一重要關鍵年份對日本進行正式訪問，希望通過此訪進一步發展日中關係。我時常回想起20多年前訪華時受到中國人民熱情歡迎的情景，至今仍然印象深刻。那次訪問讓我深刻感受到日中兩國是民心相通的。真誠希望通過兩國民眾的交往，構築兩國關係更好的未來。祝願李總理訪日取得圓滿成功。

China Premier Li to visit Hokkaido as Sino-Japan ties warm up.Leader expected to join a conference involving local political chiefs on first official visit to Japan by a Chinese premier since 2011.

Li was heading to Japan as an official working guest at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, a step down from a state guest or official guest, but an audience with Emperor Akihito was expected to be included in his itinerary, the sources said.