On November 18, Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), met with Hatoyama Yukio, former Prime Minister of Japan and President of the East Asian Community Institute (EACI), along with his wife, who came to China to attend the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024, in Kunming, Yunnan Province.
Yang Wanming welcomed Hatoyama Yukio and his wife to the conference and extended his congratulations on the recent election of Hatoyama's son, Hatoyama Kiichiro, as a member of the House of Representatives of the National Diet of Japan. Yang emphasized that China and Japan are important neighbors whose relationship is vital to both nations' fundamental interests and to peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world. He noted that three days prior, during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping met with Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. The two leaders agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, utilize dialogue mechanisms in areas such as the economy and culture, and work toward implementing the consensus on Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima. President Xi stressed the importance of deepening people-to-people, cultural, and subnational exchanges, to enhance mutual understanding, especially among the younger generation. This meeting, Yang said, has charted a clear course for advancing people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
Yang expressed his readiness to work closely with Hatoyama Yukio and friendly forces across various sectors of Japanese society. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the consensus reached by the two nations' leaders and strengthening cooperation in subnational entities, young people and think tanks, and builds more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, youth engagement, and think tank collaboration. Yang also highlighted the need to build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural interactions, and youth friendships. Additionally, Yang underscored the value of parliamentarian exchanges, particularly with young Japanese legislators, inviting them to visit China to foster political mutual trust and strengthen ties.
Hatoyama Yukio thanked the CPAFFC for inviting him to China to participate in both the China International Friendship Conference and Events Marking the 70th Anniversary of the CPAFFC and the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024. He also extended his congratulations to the CPAFFC on its 70th anniversary. Hatoyama noted that in today's world, which is marked by antagonism and insecurity, the conference held in Kunming themed "Common Prosperity, Shared Future" is timely and of profound significance. He stressed that as international relations grow increasingly complex, it is critical to meet in person, engage in constructive dialogue, and work together to build bridges of friendship. Hatoyama praised the recent meeting between the leaders of Japan and China in Lima, calling it a significant step forward for bilateral relations. Hatoyama also expressed the EACI's commitment, as well as his personal willingness, to strengthen ties with the CPAFFC. He highlighted his desire to deepen and expand cooperation between the two nations in areas such as parliamentarian exchanges, subnational collaborations, youth engagement, and think tank cooperation. He affirmed his dedication to contributing to the sustainable improvement and development of Japan-China relations.
CPAFFC Vice President Yuan Mindao, Director-General Zhu Dan of the Department of East Asian Affairs, and Deputy Director-General Sun Liang of the General Office accompanied Yang during the meeting.
