China's top legislature reviewed a bilateral consular agreement with Japan Wednesday and would likely ratify it in the next four days.
The pact was submitted by the State Council, or Cabinet, of the seventh session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, for deliberation on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed here by China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue and Japanese Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto on Oct. 24, 2008.
The 15-item agreement covers the definitions of consular terms, consular duties and the conveniences for consulates and consular members.
The pact is in accordance with China's legal principles and international convention. The approval of the treaty will help protect China's national benefits and Chinese citizens' rights, according to the statement submitted to the NPC Standing Committee.
The agreement will help promote the development of the strategic and reciprocal relationship between China and Japan, said the statement.
About 1.45 million Chinese citizens visited Japan, and 3.97 million Japanese citizens visiting China in 2007, according to the statement.
Approximately 120,000 Japanese citizens live in China and 600,000 Chinese citizens live in Japan.