On the morning of Jan.24th, the CPAFFC president Li Xiaolin met with Natsuo Yamaguchi, the president of the New Komeito Party of Japan. Jing Dunquan, the vice president of the CPAFFC and Hidehisa Horinouchi, the Japanese Minister Plenipotentiary to China were present.
President Li Xiaolin extended her welcome to Natsuo Yamaguchi for the visit to China of the delegation of the New Komeito Party, in such a difficult period of China-Japan relation. She briefed the Japanese guests the purpose of the CPAFFC and its friendly contacts with the countries of the world including Japan. She said China and Japan were the neighbors separated by a narrow strip of water; the history of friendly interaction and cultural exchanges between the two peoples had lasted for a long time and left many moving stories. The relationship between two countries was based on the affection between two countries’civilians. The relation between countries would not develop without the support of the people. The both sides should consistently enhance the people’s understanding and friendship by cultural exchanges and other methods, to lift up the voice of calling for China-Japan friendship.
President Li Xiaolin indicated that, China-Japan relation was currently facing a difficult situation. She hoped Japan make practical efforts based on facing history and reality squarely and work together with China, thus push China-Japan relation back to the healthy and steady track of development. She was looking forward to the New Komeito Party continuously playing its active role of developing the relation between the two countries.
Natsuo Yamaguchi said, cultural exchanges as the one type of the important contacts between the two countries, could be preserved in hearts. The next year would be the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the New Komeito Party; the New Komeito Party would persist and inherit the spirit of China-Japan friendship which had lasted since the party was established. The New Komeito Party would make every effort and play a positive role to improve the relation between China and Japan.