On March 22nd, a reception for the first batch of Japanese college students delegation received by the CPAFFC was held in Beijing. Vice President Song Jingwu, together with Nagata Techuji, Executive Council Member of the non-profit social entity organization Japan-China Friendship Association and Shikata Noriyuki, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Japanese Embassy to China addressed the audience.
Vice President Song Jingwu welcomed the delegation with a Haiku which says: In the blossom spring day, dear young friends came from afar with whom we shared our sincere friendship in the warm discussions. He said that last year marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Abbe met with each other in different occasions and Chinese Premier and Japanese Prime Minister exchanged visits, the bilateral relations were brought back to the normal track and realized new development. China-Japan relations have weathered the storm and came to a new starting point, this has everything to do with the unremitting efforts by the visionary friends from our two countries including the Japan-China Friendship Association. The roots of China-Japan Friendship lay in our peoples with its future in the youth. Youth, bearing the mandate of the development of China-Japan relations, is the hope of our countries and the future of our nations. This year is the Youth Exchanges Facilitating Year between China and Japan. In the next 5 years, large scale youth mutual visits will be carried out between our two countries. He believed with more understanding and friendship between the young people, China-Japan Friendship will be carried on from generation to generation.
Vice President Song Jingwu pointed out that China’s development is peaceful development with the objective of win-win cooperation with all other countries including Japan. Both China and Japan are going trough critical junctures in development, broadening and strengthening cooperation not only benefits our two peoples but also the peace and development of Asian and the world at large. It is his hope that with this visit, the students can further grasp the importance of steady and health long term development of China-Japan relations to our two countries, our continent and the world and contribute their share to China-Japan friendship.
Nagata Techuji, Executive Council Member of Japan-China Friendship Association and the head of the delegation said that it is to his great delight to lead Japanese college student delegation to China in the Youth Exchanges Facilitating Year between China and Japan and deeply understands the importance of the mission. Seeing is believing. He firmly believes the positive influence of the visit may have in the students’ future life and hopes the students can make this visit the starting point of Japan-China friendship, further understand China and the importance of Japan-China relations with exchanges with their Chinese peers and make their contributions to the realization of genuine friendship between Japan and China.
Shikata Noriyuki, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Japanese Embassy to China said, this year is the Youth Exchanges Facilitating Year between China and Japan initiated by the two governments and the visit of the delegation bears profound implications. China is experiencing rapid development and changes, he hopes the students not to be influence by media propaganda and out dated views and have a comprehensive and genuine picture of China through candid exchanges with the Chinese youth and the first hand knowledge of the cultural and technological achievements of China, share their experience and feelings with friends and loved ones back to Japan, facilitating the mutual understanding between the two peoples.
In the afternoon, the delegation experienced Intangible Cultural Heritages including Huzhou Writing Brush Production and Beijing Painted Clay Crafts.
Ms. Zhu Dan, Deputy Director-General of Japanese Affairs Department joined the above events.
Wang Houxian, Senior Inheritor of Daiyuexuan Huzhou Writing Brush demonstrates Writing Brush Production to Japanese college students
Zhang Zhongqiang, Senior Inheritor of Beijing Painted Clay Crafts teaches Japanese college students drawing Lord Rabbit, a mythical bunny sent down from the moon to bring good health to Beijing
