Chinese state councilor stresses people-to-people exchanges with Japan

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said here Wednesday that China places great importance on people-to-people exchanges and cooperation with Japan.

Yang met with Vice President Ikeda Hiromasa of Japan's major lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese government.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out in a recent meeting with Japanese guests in Beijing that China-Japan friendship has taken root in the common people and that the future of bilateral relations rests in the hands of the people of both countries.

Yang said the Chinese side is ready to work with the Japanese side in the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future," and to continuously improve and advance bilateral relations on the basis of the four political document signed by both countries.

Yang spoke positively about the active effort that the Japanese organization has made to develop China-Japan friendship in the long run.

Ikeda Hiromasa said Xi's speech has received positive response inside Japan. He said the China-friendly groups in Japan were encouraged by Xi's speech. He said the Soka Gakkai is ready to carry on its tradition of advancing Japan-China friendship and to make greater contribution to promoting people-to-people exchanges and bilateral relations. Endi