Chinese residents learn to dye traditional Japanese masks during a folk commemorative event on September 24, 2022 in Beijing. Photo: IC

As September 29 marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, people from various walks of life in China have held commemorative activities to review the progress and achievements of China-Japan exchanges over the last decades and look forward to constructive and stable bilateral relations.

On Sunday, a symposium on 50 years of China-Japan economic exchanges organized by the National Japanese Economic Association and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was held in Beijing, bringing together more than 100 scholars and representatives from both China and Japan to provide valuable ideas and plans for the development of China-Japanese economic and trade relations through discussion.

In general, both China and Japan attach great importance to economic cooperation despite some problems and challenges. After 50 years of economic exchanges and cooperation, China and Japan have become inseparable partners with closely integrated industrial and supply chains. The two sides should work together to further deepen economic ties, Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese ambassador to Japan, also executive vice president of the China-Japan Friendship Association, stated at the symposium.

A folk commemorative event was also held at a shopping mall in Beijing on Saturday, enabling Chinese residents to learn more about traditional Japanese skills, customs, and purchase Japanese specialty products.

Relevant political activities to commemorate the anniversary were also held in both China and Japan. On Saturday, the Chinese Embassy in Japan also held a reception to celebrate the anniversary. 

Former Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda said that Japan and China should take the anniversary as an opportunity to review their original aspiration of the normalization of diplomatic relations, strive toward peaceful coexistence, jointly safeguard regional prosperity and stability, and make greater contributions to the international community, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Makiko Tanaka, former Japanese foreign minister, reviewed the history of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations, hoping that the two countries will seize the opportunity to actively carry out exchanges in various fields, and strive for peaceful coexistence and common prosperity, according to Xinhua.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Japan's Komeito party, expressed wishes that both countries will strengthen exchanges in various fields and at various levels so as to lay a solid foundation for friendly bilateral relations, Xinhua reported.

Global Times