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To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Peace and Friendship Treaty, the Ikuo Hirayama Painting Exhibition jointly sponsored by the China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), the China International Culture Association (CICA) and the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA), was held in the National Art Museum of China from April 17 to 26. At the invitation of the CJFA, Tomiichi Murayama, former Japanese prime minister, and Ikuo Hirayama, president of the JCFA and famous painter, who led a delegation of over 200 people of various circles, paid a visit to China to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition and take part in the relevant activities from April 16 to 20.

On the afternoon of April 17, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition and met with Tomiichi Murayama and his party. Sun Jizheng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC; Song Jian, president of the CJFA; Cai Wu, minister of culture; Wu Dawei, vice foreign minister; Zheng Xinmiao, vice minister of culture; Liu Deyou, executive vice president of the CICA; Jing Dunquan, vice president of the CPAFFC and the CJFA; Shan Ji- xiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage; Jin Shangyi, president of the Chinese Artists Association; Fan Dian, curator of the National Art Museum of China, and Yuji Miyamoto, Japanese ambassador to China, were present on the occasion.

CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin expressed his congratulations on the opening of the Ikuo Hirayama Painting Exhibition in Beijing and spoke highly of the contributions made by Tomiichi Murayama and other Japanese friends to the development of China-Japan friendly relations. Jia said, China and Japan have a long history of friendly contacts, and cultural and art exchanges have played an important role in promoting friendship between the Chinese and Japanese people. The current bilateral relationship as a whole is gaining momentum and facing a new opportunity for development. He stressed, to develop long-term stable China-Japan good neighbourly cooperative relationship is the common aspiration of the people of the two countries and conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples.

Tomiichi Murayama expressed his thanks to ChairmanJia Qinglin for attending the opening ceremony. He said, Ikuo Hirayama is a renowned artist and has created quite a great number of excellent art works about the long history of cultural exchanges between Japan and China. This exhibition held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty and on the eve of the upcoming President Hu Jintaos state visit to Japan is of special significance. He expressed his belief that the exhibition would enhance bilateral cultural exchanges and contribute to the building of Japan-China strategic mutually beneficial relationship.

After the meeting, Chairman Jia attended the opening ceremony and cut the ribbon. Song Jian, on behalf of the Chinese sponsors, spoke highly of Ikuo Hirayamas brilliant artistic talent and lofty spirit of pursuing truth, loving peace and persistence in achieving high artistic attainments. Song said he was sure that the exhibition would achieve a full success and play a positive role in strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

After the opening ceremony, Chairman Jia accompanied by Ikuo Hirayama visited the exhibition with great interest. Over 600 Chinese and Japanese people of various circles were present at the opening ceremony.

In the evening a reception in celebration of the opening of the Ikuo Hirayama Painting Exhibition and the publication of the Chinese version of Hirayamas book The Age-Old Long River---My Personal Experience of East-West Cultural Exchange was held at the Great Hall of the People.

On the morning of April 18, a ceremony was held in the Diaoyutai State Guest House, at which Ikuo Hirayama donated his painting Horyuji Temple in Nara Bathed in the Morning Sun to the State Guest House. former State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, CPAFFC Vice Presidents Li Xiaolin and Jing Dunquan as well as Tomiichi Murayama, former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka and Ikuo Hirayama attended the ceremony.

On the afternoon of April 18, Xi Jinping, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Political Bureau and Chinese vice president, met with Tomiichi Murayama, Ikuo Hirayama and the delegation they led. Vice President Xi expressed his congratulations on the opening of Ikuo Hirayama Painting Exhibition in Beijing and appreciation of the long-term efforts and contributions made by Tomiichi Murayama and other Japanese friends to the development of Sino- Japanese friendly relations. Xi said, in recent years the leaders of the two countries have made successful “ice-breaking” “ice-thawing” and “spring-heralding” visits to each others country. Sino-Japanese relationship is facing a new opportunity for development. The two sides should make concerted efforts and seize the favourable opportunity to further strengthen mutual political trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and build and improve mechanisms in various areas so as to push the Sino-Japanese good-neigbourly cooperative relationship to a new height.