On the Afternoon of May 8, 2008, the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year was held in Tokyo's Waseda University and attended by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.

At 16:20 local time, Hu Jintao, Yasuo Fukuda and Yasuhiro Nakasone entered the hall and were seated on the podium amidst warm applause from the audience.

President Hu Jintao Addresses the Opening Ceremony

President Hu Jintao addressed the opening ceremony. He said that he was very happy to meet again with the youth of the two countries at Waseda University in celebration of the inauguration of the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year in Japan. He extended his sincere greetings to the youth of the two countries on behalf of the Chinese government and people.

President Hu pointed out that the youth symbolizes vigor and vitality and represents hope and future. The friendship between the two countries from generation to generation finally depends upon the friendship between the people, which are dependent upon the friendship between the youth. He called on the youth of the two countries to join hands in shouldering the great responsibility of promoting and carrying forward the China-Japan friendship by learning from each other, communicating with each other and trusting each other. "Let's make joint efforts to sow the seeds of China-Japan friendship widely and pass on the flag of China-Japan friendship from generation to generation." Hu wished the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year a complete success.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said in his address that the opening ceremony of the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year in Japan symbolizes a new page in the history of friendly exchanges between the youth of the two countries. He said that common consensus has been reached with President Hu on strengthening friendly exchanges between the youth. He hoped that the day's opening ceremony only marks a beginning for the rich and colorful exchange activities for the youth and that such friendly exchange activities become a platform for the people to increase mutual understanding and enhance long-term friendship. He extended his best wishes for the success of President Hu's visit to Japan and the success of the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year.

Yasuhiro Nakasone spoke highly of the joint statement on comprehensively promoting the strategic relationship of mutual benefits between China and Japan signed by President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. He believed that President Hu's state visit to Japan will play an important role in advancing the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties. He pointed out that the friendly exchange activities to be held in the two countries are conducive to increasing understanding between the people and promoting the long-term friendly cooperation between the two countries. Japan and China should exploit complementary advantages and strengthen cooperation so as to create a bright future for the two countries.

After the addresses, Hu Jintao, Yasuo Fukuda and Yasuhiro Nakasone watched the performance of the youth.

The China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year is an important program aiming at enhancing the friendship between the people and cultivating the successors to pass on the friendship between the people. The opening ceremony of the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year in China was held in Beijing in March.

After the opening ceremony, Hu Jintao and Yasuo Fukuda came to the International Exchange Center and exchanged views with the youth of the two countries. President Hu also played table tennis with Chinese table tennis player Wang Nan and Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara.

Other top Chinese officials attending the above activities were Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and State Councilor Dai Bingguo.