On May 4th, President Tang Jiaxuan of China-Japan Friendship Association met with Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union Delegation in Beijing. The delegation was led by Hayashi Yoshimasa, former Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Vice President Song Jingwu, Deputy Director-General of Japanese Affairs Department Zhu Dan from the CPAFFC and Minister for Political Affairs Ueno Atsushi of the Japanese Embassy to China also joined the meeting.
Mr Tang Jiaxuan welcomed Mr Hayashi Yoshimasa and his delegation’s visit to China and spoke highly of continuing contributions had made by Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union to China-Japan friendship. He said that this is the very first high level Japanese politician delegation to China since the beginning of the Reiwa era in Japan. From this we can see that both the Japanese government and Japanese public attached great importance to China-Japan relations and the Chinese side speak highly about this. Mr. Tang said that we will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union and further promote China-Japan friendship trough exchanges in various fields and levels.
Mr. Tang said China-Japan relations have returned to normal track after turmoil with emergence of signs of further improvements which is really gratifying. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and Japan has entered a new era, China-Japan relations are at a historical new converging point. China and Japan are both of great influence in Asia and the World, it is our shared duty and possibility to together make contributions to the peace, stability and progress of Asia and the World at large. Hope Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union will keep determined and make further more contributions to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.
 Mr. Hayashi Yoshimasa thanked President Tang’s meeting and said that the new Japanese emperor has just ascended to the throne and this year is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He understood the serious implications behind this visit at this important historical juncture. As the Chinese saying goes: Only those who are firm and resolute can withstand severe trials. The improvement and development of Japan-China relations lie with the continuous efforts by friends of all walks of life from Japan and China. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The future of Japan-China relations needs our further concrete efforts. With its long history, Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians’ union is willing to cooperate with the Chinese side and continually facilitate new developments in the bilateral relations in the future.

Photographed by Dong Dandan