Tang Jiaxuan (Guiyang, May 24, 2012) The year 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan. Friendly personages of various circles of both countries have gathered in Guiyang, a beautiful city of forests, to hold the 13th conference on Sino-Japanese friendly exchanges and discuss how to strengthen these and promote further cooperation between the two peoples under the new situation, as well as consider the prospects for medium and long-term development.  The conference convenes at an opportune moment of great significance. Here, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations, along with a warm welcome to the Chinese and Japanese delegates coming from faraway, along with sincere gratitude to the Guizhou Provincial People’s Government and the Guizhou Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for their great support in successful convening this conference. Over the past 40 years since normalization, the China-Japan relationship has seen unprecedented development. Politically, the two countries have successively signed four important political documents, committing themselves to pushing forward a strategic relationship of mutual benefit. Economically, the two countries are becoming more interdependent, with a bilateral trade volume increasing from US$1 Billion to over $ 340 billion. Personnel exchanges and contacts have expanded from an initial 10,000 person/times to 5.28 million person/times last year. It can be said that the China-Japan relationship now has a profound political, economic and social base and conforms to the aspirations of both peoples. Reviewing the course of the development of the bilateral relationship enables us to draw great inspiration. The four political documents signed by the two countries, embodying the great consensus reached by successive leaders of the two countries on the basis of profound summarization of both positive and negative experiences, are the crystallization of painstaking efforts and wisdom. The principles and spirit they set forth should be observed in practice and carefully protected by both sides. The two countries should keep up with current trends, strengthen their belief in China-Japan friendship, always proceed from the common interests of the two peoples and stick to the road of peace, friendship and cooperation.  China and Japan are neighbors with contacts of over 2000 years, and their relationship is very special, complicated and sensitive. The two countries have an emotional entanglement related to history and  conflicts of practical interests. Some issues are highly sensitive. I often say, China-Japan relationship is just like a boat sailing against the current that must forge ahead or it will be driven back. It is not easy to achieve a good bilateral relationship, which could be easily undermined if it is not cherished. Since beginning of this year some problems have reappeared in Japan, negatively influencing the atmosphere of 40th anniversary commemoration and seriously impairing the bilateral relationship. Both countries should adhere to and carry forward the great political wisdom and important consensus and understanding displayed and reached by the statesmen of the older generation in the course of rebuilding and developing the bilateral relationship. From the strategic heights and from a long-term perspective, they must firmly grasp the proper direction of development and continuously foster and strengthen political mutual trust. Both countries should properly handle major sensitive issues in line with the principles and spirit enshrined in the four political documents. The key is to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns through actual deeds and carefully safeguard the overall common interests of the bilateral relationship. Under the new situation, featuring profound changes in the international and regional pattern and accelerated development and transformation of both countries, the importance of the China-Japan relationship has increased. Both countries are shouldering greater common responsibilities and are confronted with more opportunities and challenges. The people-to-people friendship organizations of both countries should further enhance their sense of historical responsibility and sense of mission, make joint efforts to promote steady and healthy development of the bilateral relationship and carry out pragmatic exchanges to benefit both sides. In my opinion, China-Japan people-to-people exchanges can accomplish much in the following aspects: 1. Expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges at the grassroots to continuously improve our people’s feelings for each other. The key to sound relationship at State level lies in amity between the people. The foundation of China-Japan friendship lies among the people and friendship between people is the most solid basis and the most important driving force for the development of bilateral relations. In consideration of the actual situation, to further improve and deepen the friendly sentiments is a pressing and arduous task for us. At present, the two countries are jointly holding a series of activities of the Year of Friendship for People-to-People Exchanges. They should take this as an opportunity to encourage contact at grassroots level so that more people, particularly youth, will “encounter new friends” and form “bonds of the heart”; in that way, the foundation for China-Japan friendship will be deeply rooted and solid. In this process, the two sides should pay great attention to tapping the tradition and values of our common oriental culture, and conduct exciting exchanges so that China-Japan relationship can be consolidated and strengthened on the material level, and elevated on the spiritual level as well.  2. Deepen pragmatic cooperation and further expand common interests. China and Japan, being at different stages of development, have obvious complementarities in economy and trade and huge potential in cooperation. A steady and fairly fast growth of China’s economy will provide growing business opportunities for Japan, while Japan’s advanced industries, science and technology, and economic and social management expertise are worth learning by China for a long time to come. The two countries should keep up with the development trend of the times, discard zero-sum thinking, deepen mutually beneficial win-win cooperation at the bilateral, regional and global levels so as to achieve common development and prosperity. During the process of promoting exchanges and cooperation, people-to-people exchanges play a supporting role, and in particular, an important constructive role in cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in energy conservation, green and low-carbon industries, recycling economy, etc.     Vigorously promote exchanges between localities and push forward China-Japan friendly exchanges and cooperation in wider areas. Exchanges between localities over a wide area, in a variety of forms, with far-reaching influence are always an important component of China-Japan relations. Since the twinning of the first pair of friendship cites between Tianjin and Kobe in 1973, a total of 249 such pairs of friendship cities (prefectures/provinces) have emerged, offering a unique advantage and playing a major role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship. In recent years, exchanges between localities have shown good momentum in terms of deepening and substantial development. The first China-Japan Governors Forum was successfully convened in Tokyo recently, providing a new important platform for deepening local exchanges. We should work with added efforts to develop it, making it bigger, better and stronger to play a leading role. It is worth noting that some localities have adopted new ideas and tried new ways in carrying out exchanges by proceeding from their actual conditions. Vigorously carry out youth exchanges to foster successors to the cause of China-Japan friendship. The future of China-Japan relations relies on youth. The two countries should carry out exchanges between youth in a persistent way and continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendly sentiments between them. The people-to-people friendship organizations of both countries should attach great importance to the exchanges between youth, increase input, strengthen coordination and integrate shared resources, and in the meanwhile, on the basis of the current exchange projects continue to make innovations, enrich the forms of exchanges to attract more youth to take part in the friendly exchange activities. Long-term healthy development of China-Japan relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also the common expectation of the international community. I sincerely hope that the friendship organizations of both countries will continue to make good and full use of this important platform provided by the Conference on Sino-Japanese Friendly Exchanges, have frank and substantial exchanges and put forward good suggestions. I also hope that both sides will take this as an opportunity to further carry forward the tradition, make innovations, act to spread friendship, promote exchanges and boost cooperation, and make new contributions to achieving the lofty goal of peaceful coexistence, lasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. I sincerely wish the conference full success. Thank you!