A reception to commemorate the 45th anniversary of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations was held in the Great Hall of the People on September 8th. Mr. Wang Chen, the Vice-Chairman of Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Secretary-General, attended the reception, and met with the main representatives of the Japanese side before the reception. Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, President of China and Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Mr. KONO YOHEI, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, delivered speeches respectively on the reception.

During the meeting, Vice-Chairman Wang Chen extended warm welcome to the Japanese friends and thanked the Japanese friendly personages from all walks of life for actively dedicating to the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship for a long time. He said that, since 45 years ago, what we have learned from the historic experience is that the development of the bilateral relations should stay committed to the principles made from the relevant documents and consensuses between China and Japan, keep to the correct direction of peace and friendship of bilateral ties, the Sino-Japanese relations could develop healthily.

Wang Chen said, Chinese side attaches great importance to the Sino-Japanese relations and adheres to promoting the friendly cooperation of the two countries on the basis of the four political documents and the four-point principled consensus. At present, the active exchanges between China and Japan are increasing, but still complicated and sensitive. It is still fragile to improve the bilateral ties. It is hoped that Japan and China can walk towards each other and make common efforts on improving bilateral relations. People-to-people friendship has unique advantage and is fine tradition for the relations between China and Japan. The Japanese friendly organizations with China are the support for the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship. He hoped that the organizations could inherit and carry forward the fine tradition, continuously expand the team and make more contributions to improving the bilateral relations.

After meeting, Wang Chen and guests from both countries walked into the conference hall, which got a big round applause. The reception began with the beautiful songs 《Jasmine Flower》, 《Song of Four Seasons》sang by China Broadcast Children's Choir of National Radio and students from Embassy Affiliated Japanese School of Beijing, China.

President Tang expressed sincere respect in his speech to Chinese and Japanese personages from all walks of life for them had been adhering to the friendly spirit between China and Japan for a long time and making efforts on improving bilateral relations. He also said, on reviewing the development history of the two countries, it is a correct choice to remain committed to peaceful development, keeping friendship from generation to generation and realizing win-win cooperation for meeting with the common interests of the two countries and the development trend of the times. At present, the bilateral relations faced many important opportunities, but also confronted with unprecedented challenges. Both countries should, on the basis of the four political documents and the four-point principled consensus between China and Japan, and in the spirit of reviewing the history and looking into the future, implement the consensus that China and Japan are cooperation partners, not threat to each other, enhance political strategy of mutual trust and properly control differences and contradiction, so as to push the bilateral relations for improvement and development on a right track.

President Li said in her speech that, since the 45th anniversary of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties had achieved great development and obtained some precious experience and inspiration after experiencing difficulties. When reviewing the history, we found that the development of the bilateral relations is inseparable from the efforts of the generations, which are worth of cherishing and caring. When looking into the future, we found that Sino-Japanese friendship is the general trend of the development and is also expected by the two peoples, and is in line with the interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and is worth of unremitting efforts. Confronting with the new situation of the bilateral relations being improved, we should stay true to your original self and push forward. Moreover, we also should make common efforts on the sublime goals of realizing the friendship of the two peoples from generation to generation.

KONO YOHEI expressed in his speech that, since the 45th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the two countries had achieved great development in the exchanges and cooperation in various fields. We could not forget the contributions the predecessors of the two countries had made for realizing the normalization of the bilateral diplomatic relations and promoting the Sino-Japanese friendship. Both sides should take the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, and the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan as important opportunities to push the bilateral relations for further improvement.

There is an old saying in China which goes, “when you drink from a well, remember the person who dug it.” during the reception, Mme. Zhou Bingde and former Japanese Foreign Minister Mme. TANAKA MAKIKO, the relatives of the leaders of the two countries who ever experienced the establishment of diplomatic relations of the two countries, delivered speeches to express their respect to their ancestors and to inspire descendants.

Above 300 people including the leaders from Chinese relevant departments, non-government organizations and leaders from Japanese relevant organizations including seven Japan-China friendship organizations, the friendly personages from all walks of life, the relatives of former Japanese leaders who ever experienced the establishment of diplomatic relations of the two countries, and representatives of Japanese relevant organizations in Beijing, attended the reception.