Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met yesterday with four former Japanese prime ministers and held friendly talks with them.

While having breakfast with Yasuhiro Nakasone, Toshiki Kaifu, Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe, Hu said that the China-Japan relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations for both countries.

In the changing world, China and Japan are facing more common issues and responsibilities, and are sharing more common interests and larger room for development, Hu said. The China-Japan relations have exceeded the bilateral domain and are exerting stronger regional and global influence.

"The situation requests the two sides to earnestly think about and map out the future of the China-Japan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective," Hu said.

Nakasone voiced his belief that the two countries' fourth political document signed Wednesday -- the China-Japan joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations -- will lead the bilateral relations to a better future.

Kaifu stressed the importance of candid exchange of views when dealing with problems between the two countries. He called on the two sides to strengthen communication in all fields, especially between young people.

Yoshiro Mori expressed his views on the development of Africa and hoped that China and Japan will enhance cooperation to make joint contribution to peace and development of the continent.

Shinzo Abe said that the exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries is of great importance to the improvement and advancement of bilateral ties and is conducive to the promotion of bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

The four former prime ministers wished the Beijing Olympics a success.