Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have attended the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Culture and Sports Exchange Year. The two leaders agreed to push forward similar intiatives which they say serves as a bond, linking their countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Premier Wen said economy and culture have been the two bonds linking China and Japan in their friendly exchanges for more than 2,000 years.

The Chinese Premier said art and culture can bridge the souls of the two peoples.

For his part, Abe described politics and economy as the two "wheels" to speed up bilateral ties, and culture as the bond. He said the two peoples should learn about the culture of the other.

The China-Japan Culture and Sports Exchange Year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.

Wen and Abe later joined about 1,000 representatives from all walks of life from both countries at a performance by Chinese folk artists.

Premier Wen arrived in Japan Wednesday for a three-day official visit. He's expected to leave for Kyoto on Friday.