Ryuichi Sakamoto Photo: VCG

Following the news of renowned Japanese composer and producer Ryuichi Sakamoto's death, entries related to him quickly topped the trending topics on Sina Weibo on Monday, with Chinese netizens sharing his music and quotes to commemorate him.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday's press briefing that China expresses condolences on the passing of Sakamoto to his family. Sakamoto was passionate about the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan. He has composed many excellent music works containing Chinese elements and made contributions to the friendly exchanges between the two countries through concrete action, Mao said.

"Amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. It is hoped that more people with such a breadth of vision from China and Japan will continue with the exchanges and open up a future of China-Japan friendship," Mao stressed.

Sakamoto died on March 28 after a long battle with cancer, according to a statement published on his website on Sunday. "We would like to share one of Sakamoto's favorite quotes," the statement read. "'Ars longa, vita brevis.' Life is short but art will last."

Sakamoto was one of Japan's most successful musicians, acclaimed for his work in the Yellow Magic Orchestra as well as solo albums and film scores. His film score for The Last Emperor, in 1987, won him an Oscar, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe. He also acted in the movie, an epic about the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China.

"Thank you for coming to the world and bringing us so many touching moments. Listening to your music, we can always feel the emotions between each note," Chinese actress Chang Chun-ning commented on Sakamoto's Weibo account.

"Live authentically and don't forget to look at the moon every day," a netizen said, quoting Sakamoto.

As Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi just visited China on Sunday, many netizens also said that people-to-people exchanges are the real bond between China and Japan.

Recently, Japanese director Makoto Shinkai came to China to promote his new film Suzume, and was warmly welcomed by Chinese audiences. The movie has earned a 7.5/10 on Chinese review site Douban.

"China and Japan are close neighbors separated only by a narrow strip of water, friendly people-to-people exchanges will help cement the foundation of China-Japan relations," a netizen said.

From giant panda Xiang Xiang's return to China becoming the spotlight to the commemorated event of Sakamoto, it shows that the people of both sides are looking forward to people-to-people exchanges, Zhou Yongsheng, deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Although the Japanese people may have been influenced by distorted media reports, in general, the people of the two countries would like to be able to visit each other freely, experts said. However, the Japanese government is now in a very delicate situation with China as it follows the US closely to contain China. "There is a temperature difference between politicians and Japanese people," Zhou noted.

It is hoped that the Japanese government can truly view China-Japan relations from the standpoint of the people, make positive contributions to promoting people-to-people exchanges, and bring real benefits to the two peoples, experts vowed.