On January 25, with the Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake approaching, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) hosted the China-Japan Friendship Concert to Welcome the Spring Festival in Beijing. Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC; Kanasugi Kenji, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the People's Republic of China; and Li Feng, Founder of the Beijing Hefeng Art Foundation, a partner for the concert, attended the event and delivered speeches. Nearly 140 people were present, including Yuan Mindao, Vice President of the CPAFFC; Jiao Yutong, Vice President of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC); Takeyasu Masaru, Chairperson of the Board at the Kao (China) Holding Co., Ltd.; Kurata Katsukou, Deputy Head of the Japanese Association in Beijing; and representatives from relevant Chinese departments, Japanese enterprises and organizations in China, as well as media outlets from both countries.

In his speech, Yang Wanming extended New Year greetings to friends from all sectors in China and Japan, noting that bilateral relations are at a crucial stage of improvement and development. Following the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in Lima last November, both leaders reached an important consensus on advancing the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit and building a constructive and stable relationship that aligns with the needs of the new era. This has provided clear direction for the future of the bilateral relations. Yang expressed that the CPAFFC is ready to collaborate with people from all sectors in Japan, guided by the important common understandings of the two leaders, to expand exchanges and cooperation in culture, art, and youth affairs, thereby writing a new chapter for China-Japan people-to-people friendship in the new era. Yang also expressed hope that the concert would serve as a beautiful new beginning for China-Japan friendly exchanges, bringing fresh energy to the cause of China-Japan friendship.

Kanasugi Kenji noted that exchanges between Japan and China have been gradually recovering since last year. Following the summit between the two top leaders in Lima last November, there has been increased dialogue and engagement at all levels. Notably, with the joint efforts of the CPAFFC and relevant organizations, youth exchanges between Chinese and Japanese young people have flourished. Kanasugi expressed a strong desire to work closely with all sectors in both countries to make further progress in Japan-China relations in the year ahead.

Li Feng shared that, with the help of the CPAFFC, the China Hefeng art exchange delegation, consisting of 100 members focused on environmental protection and disaster prevention, visited Japan last November, conducting friendly exchanges with their Japanese peers and forging lasting friendships. He expressed hope that the seeds of China-Japan friendship would take root in the hearts of the youth from both countries, bloom, and bear fruit.

At the concert, Cheng Fangyuan, a renowned contemporary Chinese singer; Zhao Yunpeng, Principal Cellist of the China Philharmonic Orchestra; Chen Junhui, winner of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Pianists of China title at the second Huaxia Qinying, an event aimed at selecting outstanding young professional pianists; He Shucong, a well-known Chinese violinist; and the children of the Hebei Xiong'an Hefeng Children's Choir affectionately performed classic Chinese and Japanese pieces, presenting an unforgettable music feast.