From February 18 to 22, Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to Japan. He held meetings with persons in charge from multiple Japanese organizations. These included the Japan-China Friendship Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association), the Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association, the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, the Japan-China Society, the Japan-China Friendship Center, the Japan-China Friendship Association, the Soka Gakkai, the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Art Research, the National Governors' Association, the Japan Association of City Mayors, the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. During these meetings, they exchanged views on boosting people-to-people friendship between the two countries, strengthening cultural exchanges, especially youth exchange, and deepening subnational cooperation.
Yuan Mindao spoke positively of the valuable contributions and unremitting efforts made by Japanese organizations and people with vision from all sectors over the years to facilitate friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Japan and enhance the friendship between the two peoples. Yuan said the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in Lima in November last year reached important consensus, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations. At present, China-Japan relations are in a critical period of improvement and development. The two countries have maintained frequent exchanges at all levels and in all fields. However, complex and sensitive factors still remain in bilateral relations. Yuan emphasized that the CPAFFC is ready to work with people from all sectors of society in Japan to act on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, build more bridges of people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation, cultural exchanges and youth friendship, promote mutual understanding and forge closer bonds between the two peoples, and harness the strength of the people-to-people sector to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
The Japanese side said that Japan and China are important neighbors and enjoy frequent exchanges in all areas, such as economy, trade, culture, and subnational exchanges. In a world of turmoil and transformation, maintaining sound and stable Japan-China relations is of growing significance. People-to-people exchanges underpin the growth of Japan-China relations and should be further strengthened on an ongoing basis. They expressed the willingness to work together with the Chinese side to strengthen cooperation, advance people-to-people exchanges in diverse fields between the two countries, constantly enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and contribute to the sustained improvement and development of Japan-China relations.
