Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda

The Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, has held talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao. The talks come on the first full day of the Japanese leader's visit to China, his first since taking office in September. Our correspondent, James Reynolds, reports from Beijing:

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On Friday morning he was invited to the Great Hall of the People, next to Tiananmen Square, for talks with China's premier, Wen Jiabao. Following standard practice at this kind of ceremony, the two men were eager to praise one another. Mr Wen said that China and Japan had established a sound work relationship.

Mr Fukuda described their talks as a heart-to-heart dialogue. Japan's prime minister will remain in China for two more days and next year China's president, Hu Jintao, will pay a state visit to Japan.

James Reynolds, BBC News, Beijing

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making an effort
trying very hard

the largest foreign investor
the country which puts most money into business projects in China

with this in mind
knowing that this is important (that Japan spends a lot of money in China)

has walked on almost nothing but red carpet
has been treated very well

standard practice
what is usually done

eager to praise one another
enthusiastic to say good things about each other

a sound work relationship
a strong and secure working relationship

a heart-to-heart dialogue
a conversation in which important subjects are sincerely discussed

a state visit
an official trip

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