Japanese PM ends China visit

China and Japan agreed Monday to advance mutually beneficial relations as visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ended his two-day visit. Noda, who became prime minister in August, met with Chinese President Hu Jintao, who said the Japanese leader's visit was of great significance. Hu said he believed the visit would further deepen the mutually beneficial bilateral relations of strategic significance, Xinhua news agency reported. Noda was quoted as saying China's development is an opportunity both for Japan and the international community. He said promoting the Japan-China strategic relationship is necessary for solving regional and international issues. China is the world's second-largest economy after the United States and Japan the third-largest. During his visit, Noda also held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Japan's Kyodo News reported Noda and Hu also agreed on close bilateral cooperation in handling the situation in North Korea following the Dec. 17 death of the Communist country's leader, Kim Jong Il. China and Japan, along with the two Koreas, the United States and Russia also are involved in the six-party talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The talks have remained stalled for three years after North Korea walked out to protest U.N. resolutions against its nuclear program.