Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is greeted while arriving in Tokyo, capital of Japan, April 11, 2007. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived  in Tokyo yesterday for a three-day official visit. - Xinhua

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Tokyo yesterday for a three-day official visit which he has described as an "ice thawer" in Sino-Japanese ties following the "ice-breaking" trip by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to China last October.

The visit was the first by a Chinese premier since 2000, as the two countries work hard to mend relations battered by former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to Tokyo's infamous Yasukuni shrine, where Japan's war dead including 14 class-A World War II criminals were honored.

In a written statement released at the airport, Wen said the Sino-Japanese relations were significant to both nations, which are two important countries in Asia and the world. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese ties, and thus the two countries are facing a historic opportunity to improve bilateral ties, he added.

"My visit is aimed at promoting political trust and expanding reciprocal cooperation and friendly exchanges so as to push forward Sino-Japanese relations to develop in a long-term, healthy and stable way," said the premier.

In addition to talks with Abe, Wen is expected to make an official visit to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko during his visit. He will also deliver a speech in the Japanese Diet (or parliament).

China and Japan will draft a joint document spelling out the two countries' aspirations to build a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship, and the major tasks involved in this relationship, according to Chinese officials.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have revealed that the economic issue will be high on Wen's agenda.

Wen also hopes to promote long-term educational and cultural exchanges and exchanges between the youths of the two countries, and further boost the good-neighborly relations between China and Japan.

"I hope to upgrade Sino-Japanese relations to a new level through the visit," Wen said.

Abe chose China for his first overseas trip after taking office last September, a move believed to be a sign of the new prime minister's eagerness to improve relations with China.

"If Prime Minister Abe's visit to China ... can be described as an ice breaker, then I hope my visit to Japan will be an ice thawer," Wen told the press before his visit.

Abe had echoed Wen's hope for warmer bilateral relations and the establishment of a strategic partnership, and pledged to make Wen's visit a success.

Abe said he will seek Wen's support to resolve the kidnapping issue with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and also wants to win China's support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Prior to his Japanese tour, Wen paid a two-day official visit to South Korea.