On the afternoon of March 23, 2012, Vice President Xi Jinping, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with a delegation of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) headed by DPJ Secretary-General Azuma Koshiishi at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi extended welcome to Azuma Koshiishi who is visiting China on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties and is scheduled to hold the fourth meeting of exchange mechanism between the DPJ and the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi said bilateral exchanges and cooperation have seen remarkable progress since the two countries normalized their diplomatic ties 40 years ago, benefiting both nations and making positive contributions to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world. A review of bilateral relations over the past four decades revealed several important points on the development of these ties. First, enhance dialogue and communication to build up strategic mutual trust. Second, boost mutually beneficial cooperation by advancing with the times. Third, expand people-to-people exchanges to carry forward the friendship from generation to generation. Fourth, jointly cope with regional and global challenges by keeping common interests in mind. China-Japan relations are at a new starting point and face new opportunities for further development, he said, adding that China is ready to work with Japan to jointly push for long-term stable and healthy development of bilateral ties.

Xi praised the important role of the CPC-DPJ exchange mechanism in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations. Xi said he hopes the meeting between the two ruling parties will result in greater contributions to the reinforcement of bilateral political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas as well as improvement of national feelings of both peoples.

Koshiishi said this year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, which is worth celebrating. The past four decades has seen rapid development of Japan-China exchanges and remarkable results of cooperation in various fields. Japan is willing to work with China to promote the further development of bilateral strategic and mutually beneficial relations. He said the CPC and the DPJ have conducted extensive dialogues and communication since the two parties established their exchange mechanism in 2006. The DPJ is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the CPC through this mechanism in order to jointly advance bilateral ties, Koshiishi said.

Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and other officials attended the meeting.