BEIJING (Jiji Press) — Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, starting a five-day tour of China.

Carrying with him Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Yamaguchi will seek an opportunity to meet with the Chinese leader during his stay in the country.

“I’d like to work on developing Japan-China ties into eternal friendship,” Yamaguchi told reporters at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda before his departure.

“Our important goal for now is to enable Japanese and Chinese leaders to visit each other’s country,” he added.

Yamaguchi apparently hopes to lay the groundwork for Abe’s planned visit to China in October so that it will lead to mutual visits by the two countries’ leaders.

In Beijing, Yamaguchi will hold talks with senior officials of the Communist Party of China and others. He will also visit Tianjin to deliver a speech at Nankai University.

This is Yamaguchi’s fifth visit to China since he became Komeito leader in 2009. His previous visit to the country was in November last year.