TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said in Tokyo Thursday that Japan would seek to expand its strategic and mutually beneficial relations with China.

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Japan hoped to deepen its strategic and mutually beneficial relationship with China by sharing the position as responsible international major players, said Kan, when delivering a diplomatic speech at a gathering in downtown Tokyo.

In the speech, Kan stressed efforts should be stepped up to increase the people-to-people exchange between the two nations.

Kan also vowed to promote Japan's ties with its other Asian neighbors and strengthen the alliance with the United States.

The gathering, organized by the International Friendship Exchange Council, was the first one made by Kan with the sole topic of foreign policy and security issue since he took office last June.