They were the first foreign delegate Hu has met since being re-elected as Chinese president on Saturday morning.

During the meeting, Hu told Yotaro Kobayashi, the chief Japanese member of the new 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship, that it accords with the fundamental interests of both countries to develop a good-neighborly relationship of long-term stability.

He pledged to expand cooperation with Japan and further develop mutually-beneficial ties based on common strategic interests.

"I am looking forward to the coming visit to Japan, and hope our two countries could lay out the future of the bilateral relations through the visit."

Kobayashi said Hu showed great enthusiasm for the Japan-China ties and he placed high hopes on the youth by showing up at the ceremony amid his tight agenda during the annual parliamentary session.

He also delivered a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to Hu.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (1st R) waters a tree with a Japanese representative after planting it during the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Friendly Exchange Year of the Youth at Renmin University in Beijing, March 15, 2008. (Xinhua Photo/Lan Hongguang)