Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), met with Mr. YOKOI YUTAKA, New Japanese Ambassador to China, on June 2. Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), attended the meeting.

President Tang extended his welcome to Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA for taking his new post in China. He expressed that the current bilateral relations developed stably, the exchanges at different levels began to restore, the personnel exchanges increased gradually and the pragmatic cooperation developed in an orderly manner. But, the bilateral ties are still very fragile and are interfered by some sensitive factors from time to time. Since China and Japan are the first and the second largest economy in Asia, peace, friendship and cooperation are the only correct choices for both countries. Whatever difficulties they might confront with, the both sides should focus on the overall situation, overcome the challenges and grasp the general direction of lasting friendship from generation to generation. President Tang emphasized that the both sides should strengthen the political mutual-trust, promote the pragmatic cooperation in various fields, deepen the pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in the fields of the economy, trade, humanity, culture, youth, environment, media and etc. so as to consolidate the foundation for improving and developing the bilateral relations. Next year marks the 45th anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between China and Japan, the year after next will marks the 40th anniversary of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. He hoped that the both sides should catch the rare opportunities to strive to develop the new situation of the improved bilateral ties after summarizing the experience and lessons.

Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA thanked President Tang Jiaxuan for taking his time to meet him. Ambassador YOKOI YUTAKA said that the Japan-China relations experienced many difficulties in these years, now the bilateral ties are in the important period of improving the relations. Under the new situation, the two countries should work together to build a new type of relationship to meet the new times’ requirements and benefit to the both sides. As the Japanese　Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China, he felt a great responsibility and also decided to try his best to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Xiao Qian, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dou Zhongyi, Secretary of President Tang Jiaxuan, Mr. Cheng Haibo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Japanese Affairs of the CPAFFC, Mr. ISHIKAWA KOJI and Mr YAMAMOTO TAKASHI, Ministers of the Embassy of Japan in China, attended the meeting.