On October 10th, the 8th Meeting of China-Japan Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism kicked off in Hokkaido, Japan. The Communist Party of China (CPC), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito co-hosted the meeting. Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, headed the CPC delegation to attend the meeting, and delivered a keynote speech themed on strengthening mutual trust and cooperation and ushering in a new era for China-Japan relations.

Song expressed in his keynote speech that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, charting the course for the improvement and development of China-Japan relations. The ruling parties of the two countries should well implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, adhere to the right direction, and maintain the political foundation of relations between the two countries, so as to open up a new situation of lasting peace and friendship. The ruling parties of the two countries should also expand mutually beneficial cooperation to build a new pattern of common development and prosperity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative; take active actions, uphold free trade and build an open world economy to show the new undertaking of promoting world development; and facilitate two-way exchanges to tighten the new people-to-people amity and bond. Song said that the ruling parties of the two countries should continue to well play a political guiding role in developing China-Japan relations, strengthen strategic communication, set up cooperation platforms, and guide public opinion, so as to jointly usher in a new era for China-Japan relations.

Toshihiro Nikai, LDP Secretary-General, and Inoue Yoshihisa, Deputy Chief of the New Komeito Party, also delivered speeches respectively at the opening ceremony. They spoke highly of the important role played by the Japan-China Ruling Party Exchange Mechanism in the development of relations between the two countries. Toshihiro Nikai expressed that Japan and China are neighboring countries that cannot be separated. It is the common responsibility of both sides to inherit Japan-China traditional friendship and promote the sustained improvement and development of bilateral relations. The Japanese side appreciates the Belt and Road Initiative, and stands ready to enhance dialogue and cooperation in relevant fields with the Chinese side through such channels as exchanges between ruling parties. Inoue Yoshihisa expressed that Japan and China are neighboring countries separated by only a narrow strip of water. Japan stands ready to, together with the Chinese side, constantly strengthen cooperation in economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural engagement, locality and other fields, so as to promote Japan-China relations for comprehensive improvement and accelerated development.

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