President Tang Jiaxuan met with the outgoing Ambassador KITERA MASATO and his wife in Beijing on 19th, April. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Xiao Qian, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dou Zhongyi, Secretary of President Tang, Mr. Itoh Kouichi, Chief-Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting.

First of all, President Tang expressed consolation to Kumamoto Prefecture hit by powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan. He also appreciated the great contributions made by Ambassador KITERA MASATO to improve the China and Japan relations. He said, as long as the both sides adhere to the four documents and the four-point principled agreement, grasp the direction and general situation of the development of the bilateral ties, take a long-term perspective and do more work that is beneficial to the Sino-Japanese relations, the bilateral ties will be moved to a stable and healthy development. President Tang hoped that Ambassador KITERA MASATO will continue to concern about the general situation of the Chinese development and the bilateral ties in future. He wished Ambassador KITERA MASATO a great success in the new position.

Ambassador KITERA MASATO thanked Chinese government and CPAFFC for concerning about the earthquake happened in Kumamoto Prefecture and consoling to the Japanese. He said, when he took up his position in 2012, the bilateral tie was faced with great difficulties. After the jointly efforts of the both sides, the China and Japan relations improved gradually. He thanked the China and Japan Friendship Association for supporting his work and he would like to continue concerning about the bilateral relations after leaving his position.