TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that he is committed to promoting Japan-China strategic and mutually beneficial relations.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan (C) speaks to the media with his ruling Democratic Party Secretary General Katsuya Okada (R) after meeting with the party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa at the premier's official residence in Tokyo Dec 20, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

The premier made the pledge in his new year message carried in "Japan and China", the official publication of Japan-China Friendship Association.

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In the first issue of the friendship body's journal in 2011, published ahead of the new year, Kan conveyed the message that based on the perception that Japan-China relations are of great importance to peace and development in the region as well as in the world, he has been adhering to the policy of advancing bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations since his assumption of the premiership in June 2010.

As close neighbors, Japan and China have conducted exchanges for thousands of years, he said. The two sides need to overcome various obstacles and make concerted efforts towards closer cooperation and exchanges.

The year of 2010 marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the friendship body, Kan said, expressing his respect for the association's drive to promote bilateral ties.

The prime minister said it is his sincere hope that the association will play a more important role in people-to-people contacts between the two nations in the future.