China on Wednesday called on Japan to work together to boost common development in East Asia.

In a meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba Koichiro, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed that as influential nations, China and Japan making such a joint effort will serve the common interests of not just the two countries, but also others in the region.

"The just-concluded East Asia Summit has demonstrated a strong trend of forging solidarity, development and cooperation within the region," Wen said.

Wen attended the 6th East Asia Summit in Bali of Indonesia on Saturday and put forward a five-point proposal for boosting the regional economy.

The two sides should further intensify their high-level exchanges to increase political and strategic mutual trust, expand new fields of cooperation to achieve mutual benefit, and foster humanitarian exchange and cooperation to boost friendship between the two peoples, Wen told Koichiro.

Echoing Wen's views on bilateral relations, Koichiro said China's development offers opportunities for Japan, and the steady growth of Japan-China ties serves the fundamental interests of the two nations and bears great significance to the region and the world.

The Japanese government highly values, and is committed to furthering the strategic and mutually beneficial relations with China. It is ready to make efforts to expand cooperation, strengthen regional and international coordination and improve sentiments between the two peoples, Koichiro said.

Koichiro is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. His China visit is widely believed to pave way for a possible visit by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.