On the occasion of the opening of the first meeting of the Fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on February 7, 2010, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama respectively sent congratulatory messages to the opening of the meeting. The Chinese delegation and the Japanese delegation were respectively headed by Tang Jiaxuan, senior member of China and a former state councilor and Taizo Nishimuro, senior member of Japan and President of Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).

Premier Wen said in his congratulatory letter that China-Japan relations, having experienced ups and downs, twists and turns, are making important strides toward the goal of strategic and mutually beneficial relationship. Such results do not come easily and the tide cannot be stopped. Facing the volatile and complicated international situation and many challenges ahead, both sides should be visionary, enhance mutual trust, and unswervingly push forward dialogue and cooperation in various fields. This will not only benefit the development of China and Japan and the rejuvenation of Asia, but also will have a positive and far-reaching impact on the world's political and economic landscape. The 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship is a bridge between the two countries and a link between the two governments and societies. China-Japan relationship is at a critical stage. He hoped that the committee members from both sides sincerely collaborate with each other, pool people’s wisdom, contribute good ideas, do something concrete and make new contributions to the lasting friendship between China and Japan as well as the common prosperity of the two countries.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said in his congratulatory letter that Japan and China are important countries in Asia. Both sides should place and consider the bilateral relationship in the context of Asia and the world, strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation, and build a mutually beneficial relationship in all all-round way. He hoped that the committee members from both sides look at the future, fully exchange views and actively offer suggestions on promoting the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Tang Jiaxuan and Taizo Nishimuro respectively delivered keynote reports at the opening ceremony.

Tang said that three important revelations could be obtained based upon the review of the extraordinary course of development of China-Japan relations in the post-war era. First, the general direction of China-Japan friendship must be always adhered to. As Mr. Deng Xiaoping said, China-Japan friendship should always last. The lasting friendship is far more important than any other matters between China and Japan. Second, according to the principles and spirits written down in the four political documents between China and Japan, the two countries should respect each other's core interests and major concerns and handle problems and differences between the two sides calmly, cautiously, properly and holistically. Third, the two countries must objectively understand and handle each other's development and establish correct positioning with each other. China and Japan are partners, not threat to each other. The two sides should support each other's peaceful development.

Tang said that China and Japan are constantly evolving. The international and regional landscape is seeing big change and adjustment, bringing about important opportunities for China-Japan relations. The bright prospects of China's economic development will open up new and bigger space for the economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan. The new cabinet of Japan sets store by Asia and China-Japan relations, which is conducive to the further development of China-Japan relations. The Asian regional cooperation process will accelerate and deepen. East Asia is one of the world's fastest growing regions. China and Japan are facing an important opportunity to join hands to promote the Asian integration and revitalize Asia. The two economies are highly complementary to each other and therefore enjoy great potential for cooperation in the post-crisis era and in the new round of international economic transformation.

Tang also pointed out that China-Japan relations still face some problems and challenges, which cannot be neglected. The political mutual trust between the two countries needs to be further enhanced. The people’s feelings toward each other need to be further improved. Some sensitive issues need to be properly considered and handled.

Tang stressed that it is the common goal of both China and Japan to adapt to change, seize opportunities, restrain negative factors, enhance positive factors, upgrade the level of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship, and promote greater development of China-Japan relations in the new situation. Tang put forward the following suggestions. First, to effectively foster strategic mutual trust. The two sides should actively promote and make earnest preparations for the exchange of visits by the leaders of the two countries in 2010 and further strengthen exchanges and dialogue between governments, political parties, parliaments, defense and other agencies. Second, to vigorously promote the transformation and upgrade of economic and trade relations. The two sides should establish new thinking, seek new areas, and explore new spaces. The two sides should focus on sustainable development and strengthen cooperation in energy, environment, green and low-carbon economy, high-tech, and other fields so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win situation. Third, to constantly expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and strive to improve people's feelings toward each other. The two sides should further improve mechanisms, increase investment, and make constant efforts in the regard. The two sides should take the Shanghai World Expo as an opportunity to set off a new upsurge in the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Fourth, to take Asia as the main stage and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. The two sides should jointly promote regional financial cooperation, the Asian bonds market and the networking construction of infrastructure and promote the official-industry-academic research on the establishment of China-Japan-ROK (the Republic of Korea) free trade area.

Taizo Nishimuro said that the Japanese side attaches great importance to China's rapid development and the important roles played by China in regional and international affairs. Japan and China are both important countries. Both sides should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas, learn from each other, benefit each other and achieve common development. Nishimuro put forward the following suggestions. First, to maintain policy communication and dialogue and enhance mutual political trust. Second, to promote trade liberalization and foster new areas of cooperation in such fields as energy, environmental protection, and climate change. Third, to encourage non-governmental and cultural exchanges and train more talents who know and understand the other side. Fourth, to work together to promote Asian regional cooperation, world peace and harmony, global economic balance and sustainable development.

After the opening ceremony, the meeting entered the first phase, during which the members from both sides had in-depth discussions around the changing international situation, China-Japan relations and other issues.

The 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship, an advisory body for the two governments, was established in 1984. It consists of eminent personalities from different communities of the two countries. It has played a positive role in promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples and promoting improvement and development of China-Japan relations. The Fifth Committee was established in November 2009. In the 3-day meeting, the two sides will have focused discussions on such topics as changes in the international situation and China-Japan relations, international and regional economic trends and China-Japan cooperation, changes in China-Japan public opinions and national feelings of the two countries.