BEIJING &#8212; In a move symbolizing deepening Japan-China ties, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao agreed Friday to improve their 'strategic mutually beneficial relationship' and build a solid foundation of mutual trust.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2007/nn20071229a1a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='238'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Chinese President Hu Jintao takes Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's hand as he escorts the Japanese leader to their meeting venue Friday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. </B> KYODO PHOTO</FONT></TD> </TR> <TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>During his talks with Fukuda, Hu demonstrated his willingness to raise Sino-Japanese cooperative ties to a new level, officials said.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>Fukuda responded that he wants to develop a relationship of strategic reciprocity between the two countries.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>On current bilateral relations, Hu said they are in good shape, stressing the need to appropriately deal with issues between the two countries based on a spirit that reflects history and moves forward, according to the officials.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='LEFT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2007/nn20071229a1b.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='200'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is welcomed by students at Peking University, where he delivered a speech Friday afternoon. </B> POOL PHOTO/KYODO</FONT></TD> </TR> <TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>Earlier in the day, Fukuda and Wen agreed that the two nations should promote environmental cooperation, expand exchanges and resolve their dispute over gas fields in the East China Sea as quickly as possible.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>Fukuda also said he would not support a planned referendum in Taiwan on seeking United Nations membership 'if it leads –

to take unilateral action to change the status quo" in cross-strait relations.

Fukuda's visit follows the "ice-breaking trip" to China by his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, in October 2006 and Wen's "ice-thawing visit" to Japan in April.

Describing the two nations' relations, Fukuda said "spring has come."

"Japan and China are now facing a big opportunity and responsibility. I'd like to have the two countries working together while seeing things in perspective for the creation of the future of Asia and the world," Fukuda said at the start of the meeting with Wen.