On May 30, 2017 local time, State Councilor Yang Jiechi held a group meeting in Tokyo with friendship groups of Japan. Representatives from seven China-Japan friendship groups and the Japan Business Federation were present.

Yang Jiechi spoke highly of the long-term efforts made by people of China-Japan friendship groups to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation and enhance bilateral relations. Yang Jiechi pointed out that as this year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, the two sides should keep the original aspiration and seize the opportunities to bring bilateral relations back on the normal track at an early date.

Yang Jiechi stated that China adheres to the diplomatic policy of good-neighborly friendship and partnership and follows the neighborhood diplomacy featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. Always valuing China-Japan relations, China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to build good neighborly and friendly relations and promote win-win cooperation. It is hoped that Japan could meet China half way, uphold the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations and steadily promote practical cooperation in various fields on the basis of the four political documents and the four-point principled agreement between the two countries, so as to push bilateral relations for healthy and stable development.

Yang Jiechi stressed that the two countries should adapt themselves to the changes of situations, nurture new growth points, and conduct mutually beneficial cooperation in more areas and at higher levels. He welcomes Japan to discuss cooperation under the "Belt and Road" framework with China. The two sides must cherish the sound tradition and unique advantage of bilateral non-governmental friendship and the Chinese government is willing to provide a strong backing for the cause of bilateral non-governmental friendship.

Representatives from friendship groups in Japan said that China and Japan are neighbors separated only by a narrow strip of water with close economic and cultural relations, and bilateral relations are of great importance. At present, China enjoys rapid economic and social development, and has a major impact on international affairs. All walks of life in Japan congratulated China on the success of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and proposed to actively deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields. They said that they will continue their efforts to promote bilateral friendship and mutual trust and push for the improvement and development of Japan-China at the time of the 45th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations and in the years to come.