On September 12, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
Wang Yi said that 50 years ago, the leaders of the older generation of the two countries, with their excellent strategic vision and political courage, broke the ice of the Cold War, eliminated many disturbances, and made the political decision to normalize the diplomatic relations between China and Japan, which opened the door to the relationship between the two countries. A new page in history.
Over the past 50 years, the two sides have successively reached four political documents and a series of important consensuses, laying a political and legal foundation for bilateral relations, and pragmatic cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results.
Confucius said, "At fifty you will know the mandate of Heaven".
Living in good-neighborliness and friendship, and developing and revitalizing Asia are the destiny, original aspiration and responsibility of China and Japan.
Wang Yi said that the current world is turbulent and volatile, and China-Japan relations will retreat if they fail to advance.
As the next 50-year journey is about to begin, the two sides should not only review the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, learn from historical experience, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations on the right track; The new connotation and impetus of China-state relations.
Wang Yi put forward five views on building China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era:
We must keep our promises and maintain the political foundation of China-Japan relations.
"Communication with the Chinese people, stop at letter".
To ensure stable and long-term relations between the two countries, we must abide by the four political documents reached by China and Japan and the commitments made so far.
Regarding major issues of principle concerning the fundamentals of China-Japan relations, such as history and Taiwan, there should be no ambiguity in the slightest, let alone backsliding.
We must focus on the overall situation and grasp the correct development direction.
The two sides should always take a strategic and long-term perspective, proceed from the fundamental interests of the two countries, and reflect the political consensus of "mutual cooperation and no threat" into policies, implement them in actions, eliminate interference, properly handle differences, and ensure that China The ships of Japan-Japan relations will not run aground or yaw.
It is necessary to deepen cooperation and achieve a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win results.
At present, China-Japan cooperation faces a broader space for development.
The two sides should firmly establish a sense of partnership, uphold a global vision, jointly resist the wrong practice of "decoupling and breaking the chain", and maintain a stable and smooth global production and supply chain, as well as a fair and open trade and investment environment.
It is necessary to strengthen guidance and create a positive and friendly mutual understanding.
The non-governmental exchanges between China and Japan have a long history and should keep pace with the times and carry forward.
To recognize each other, we should uphold harmony while different, put harmony first, and avoid imposing our own values on each other.
The governments and media of the two countries should create a favorable environment for the objective and friendly mutual recognition of the two peoples.
We must follow the general trend and practice genuine multilateralism.
In the face of a century of changes and a century-old epidemic, China and Japan, as important countries in the region and the world, must see clearly the trend of the times in multi-polarization, globalization, civilization diversification, and regional integration, maintain the international system with the United Nations at the core, and jointly oppose zero Fight against games and factions, promote regional stability and regional integration and development, and inject more positive energy into the world.
Wang Yi stressed that China and Japan have only a strip of water and a reed to navigate; the two countries have different mountains and rivers, and the wind and moon are in the same sky.
Facing the next 50 years of Sino-Japanese relations, the two sides should shoulder the responsibilities entrusted by history, make the right choice that is worthy of predecessors and live up to future generations, and promote Sino-Japanese relations to continue to go higher and wider, and open up new ones. The bright prospects of China-Japan relations in the era will bring more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to the peaceful development of the region and the world.
Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fang said in a video speech that since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China 50 years ago, the relations between the two countries have made great progress.
The two sides should bear in mind the wisdom and courage of former Prime Minister Masahiro Ohira and other predecessors of the two countries, and focus on the next 50 years, and work together to build a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship.
The seminar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations was co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Japan and the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, and co-organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the seven Japanese-Chinese friendship groups in Japan. It will be held online and offline, with separate venues in Beijing and Tokyo.
Representatives of friendly people from all walks of life in China and Japan were present.