China attaches great importance to the upcoming visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the foreign ministry said here Monday.

President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo will meet with Noda, respectively, and Premier Wen Jiabao will also hold talks with him, spokesman Liu Weimin said at a press briefing.

Liu said the two side will exchange views on Sino-Japanese ties, as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

Noda's official two-day visit, from Dec. 25 to 26, comes at the invitation of Premier Wen.

China hopes the two countries will further political mutual trust and deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas in order to promote the bilateral relationship, Liu said.

The year 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties, he said, and as China and Japan are important neighbors, maintaining the sound development of bilateral ties conforms with fundamental interests of the two countries and is of great significance for regional peace, stability and development.