On December 5, 2024, President Yang Wanming met with President Tokuichiro Utunomiya of the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA) and his delegation at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).
President Yang Wanming warmly welcomed Tokuichiro Utunomiya on his first official visit to China leading a delegation after assuming the presidency of the JCFA. He acknowledged the unique and pivotal role the JCFA has played in advancing China-Japan relations over the years. Yang emphasized that last month, President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held a meeting in Peru where they reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit. This meeting set the political framework for a constructive and stable relationship aligned with the demands of the new era, providing crucial guidance for the improvement of bilateral ties and for strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. The CPAFFC, Yang stated, is ready to work with the JCFA to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, ensure the success of major events such as the 18th China-Japan Friendly Exchange Conference and the Conference of the Junior High School Students Table Tennis Friendship Competition Between China and Japan Friendly Exchange Cities, and further expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, especially among youth and sister cities. This, he said, would contribute to the steady and long-term development of China-Japan relations.
Tokuichiro Utunomiya shared his experience of visiting China in October for the 70th anniversary of the CPAFFC's founding, where he had the privilege of listening to President Xi Jinping's important speech on building a community with a shared future for mankind. He was deeply moved, noting that his grandfather, Utsunomiya Tokuma, the third president of the JCFA, had long emphasized that promoting Japan-China friendship was one of Japan's most significant security measures and key to maintaining world peace. Looking ahead to the 75th anniversary of the JCFA's founding, Utunomiya expressed his commitment to working even more closely with the CPAFFC, strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Japan and China in the field of people-to-people exchanges, and contributing to the development of Japan-China relations and peace in Asia and worldwide.
Vice President Yuan Mindao of the CPAFFC and JCFA Chairman Agehara Yasumaro were present at the meeting.
