Song Jian Attends Reception for 60th Anniversary of Japan-China Friendship Association

At a reception celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Japan-China Friendship Association (JCFA)， Song Jian， President of the counterpart CJFA， said that， despite numerous difficulties， the former had advanced courageously and made precious contributions to the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic relations， including the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Song praised the JCFA as a pioneer and exemplary exponent of Japan-China friendship. Song noted that， during Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent official visit to Japan， he had conferred the Award for Contributions to the Promotion of China-Japan Friendship on various organizations and personages working in this field. The JCFA，its honorary advisor Michiko Hirayama， and Kazuko Sakada， as representatives of these organizations and individuals， were respectively honored to show the Chinese people’s gratitude towards the JCFA.

The bilateral relationship currently enjoyed good momentum and faced new opportunities. He hoped the JCFA would continue to carry forward the fine traditions of the past， make fresh contributions to the lasting friendship between the two countries and “dig wells， plant trees， build bridges and pave the way” for younger generations so that China and Japan can become good neighbors enjoying mutual benefits and respect forever.

The reception was held on the afternoon of June 21 in Tokyo， with the attendance of around 350 personages of various circles from the two sides， including leading officials of the seven friendship-with-China organizations and well-known figures in the political， economic and cultural circles. Apart from Song Jian， Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua extended congratulations to Tomiichi Murayama， former Japanese Prime Minister and honorary advisor to the JCFA and JCFA President Koichi Kato. Osamu Fujimura， Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs， and Masahiko Komura， President of the Dietmen’s League for Japan-China Friendship， also spoke.

Ambassador Cheng said China-Japan friendship was based on， and motivated by the two peoples. Under the new situation， China hoped the JCFA would continue to innovate in a pioneering spirit and forge ahead with determination to create new glories in the strategic relationship.

Koichi Kato expressed his thanks to Song Jian for leading the delegation to attend the celebration. He said， friendly relations between Japan and China were of utmost importance not only to the two countries， but also to the peace and stability of Asia and indeed of the whole world. Predecessors in the field had made enormous efforts for today’s good situation. The JCFA was willing to continue to uphold Japan-China friendship and work for the development of the relations between the two countries in the same spirit.

Osamu Fujimura said the Japanese Government attached great importance to developing relations with China， which it believed were one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world. The leaders of the two countries unanimously hold that the two countries should further enrich the contents of their strategic relationship of mutual benefit， deepen mutual understanding and build a long-term stable bilateral relationship. The JCFA and other non-governmental friendship-with- China organizations had played a unique role in this regard. He hoped they would continue to work for further developing exchanges between the two peoples.

The reception was permeated with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Friendly personages of various circles of the two countries had cordial conversations， recalled the extraordinary development course of China-Japan relations and expressed their expectation of and confidence in bright prospects of the relations between the two countries.

Invited by the JCFA and the Japan-China Friendship Center， Song Jian and his party paid a goodwill visit to Tokyo and Hokkaido and attended other celebration activities of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the JCFA from June 20 to 27.