Ｊａｐａｎ－Ｃｈｉｎａ Ｎｅｗ Ｃｅｎｔｕｒｙ Ａｓｓｏｃｉａｔｉｏｎ Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ Ｖｉｓｉｔｓ Ｃｈｉｎａ

Ｚｈａｎｇ　Ｚｈｅｎｘｉｎｇ

At the invitation of the CPAFFC, a delegation consisting of seven Japanese Dietmen of the Japan-China New Century Association (JCNCA) led by Otohiko Endo, president of the JCNCA and member of the House of Representatives of the Komei Party, paid a visit to Beijing from June 22 to 25. Xu Jialu, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC), met with the delegation. Song Jian, president of the China-Japan Friendship Association (CJFA), met with and entertained the delegation. The delegation paid an official call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Xu Jialu Meeting with the Delegation

On June 24, Xu Jialu, former vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, met with Otohiko Endo and his party at the Great Hall of the People.

Xu Jialu expressed his welcome to the Japanese delegation visiting China and appreciation of the efforts made by the JCNCA since its founding in 2000 to enhance mutual understanding, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and develop Japan-China relations. Xu said, looking back on the past, China-Japan relations experienced twists and turns from time to time and met with great difficulties a few years ago. With the joint efforts made by the governments and various social circles of the two countries, now the dark clouds have been dispelled and the sun has come out in bilateral relations. In recent years, through successful exchanges of visits by the leaders of the two countries, China-Japan relations have been noticeably improved and are developing further. Particularly President Hu Jintaos successful visit to Japan has born rich fruits. Sino-Japanese relationship is at a new historical starting point and has had a solid foundation for its development to a higher stage. The leaders of the older generation and personages of insight of various circles of the two countries have made painstaking efforts to promote bilateral relations. The Chinese and Japanese people will forever remember their great contributions. We should carry out the behests of the older generation and make joint efforts to realize ever-lasting friendship between the people of the two countries.

Xu said, we should not evade the problems existing in bilateral relations. The two sides should proceed from the China-Japan friendship and on the basis of friendly consultation properly handle these problems. China and Japan are close neighbours and have a 2,000-year history of friendly exchanges. Though there was an unfortunate period in the 20th century, friendly relations have remained the mainstream. Both countries should draw experience and lessons from history, strengthen exchanges and dialogue, and learn from each other to make up for their deficiencies so as to realize common development.

Otohiko Endo thanked Xu Jialu for meeting with them in the midst of pressing affairs. He said, President Hu Jintaos visit to Japan in May has achieved great success. The two countries have reached extensive consensus on all-round promotion of Sino- Japanese strategic relations of mutual benefit. The further development of bilateral relations is conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and the world. Relations between the two countries, in final analysis, are relations between the people of the two countries. In future mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples should be further enhanced. The JCNCA as a friendship-with-China organization in the Japanese Diet will continue their efforts to boost exchanges between the two countries in various fields and develop Japan-China relations.

CJFA President Song Jian Meeting with the Delegation

On June 23, CJFA President Song Jian met with and entertained Otohiko Endo and his party at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. Otohiko Endo, on behalf of the JCNCA and the Kenminkai of Tochigi Prefecture, his home place, donated money to the Sichuan earthquake-hit areas and wished the people in the disaster areas early success in rebuilding their homeland.

Song Jian expressed his gratitude to Otohiko Endo and the JCNCA for their good wishes for the reconstruction of the earthquake-stricken areas. Song said, in the wake of the Wenchuan catastrophic earthquake, the international community including Japan showed great concern and support for the Chinese people. The Japanese Government offered prompt relief aids to China and the Japanese people of various circles also lent their helping hands. All this shows the Japanese peoples friendly sentiments towards the Chinese people. Japan, a country where earthquakes happen frequently, has precious experience in taking precautions against earthquakes. China is willing to learn from Japanese techniques and experience. We believe that with the help of the international community and through concerted efforts of the Chinese government and people, the disaster areas in Sichuan will surely be reconstructed early. Song Jian also expressed his sincere sympathy and solicitude for the families of those who lost their lives and the wounded in the recent Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake.