Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office of China (SCIO), met with a Japanese delegation led by Tatsuo Fukuda in Beijing on Dec.17. The delegation mainly composed of young Diet (congress) members from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Guo Weimin, vice minister of the SCIO, also attended the meeting.

Xu Lin (C), deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office of China, meets with a Japanese delegation in Beijing on Dec. 17, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

After warmly welcoming the guests, Xu said that, following the wishes of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and other veteran Japanese statesmen, the young Diet members from the LDP are actively promoting and participating in events of friendly exchanges between China and Japan, which contributes to the understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

Xu said that at present China and Japan are witnessing an important opportunity for the improvement and development of the two countries’ relationships, and that he hopes the two sides will strengthen communication and exchanges so as to jointly make new efforts and contributions to the development of Sino-Japanese friendship.

Xu also briefed the guests on the tremendous changes that China has undergone over the past 40 years since its reform and opening up, and the root causes of its great achievements. He extended welcome to all members of the delegation as well as other Japanese, inviting them to visit and experience China.

Guo Weimin briefed the guests on China-related matters and answered their questions. He said he hopes members of the delegation will vigorously support and promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Japanese media organizations and think tanks so as to better introduce to the Japanese people a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China.

Fukuda and other members of the delegation expressed gratitude for the arrangements made by the Chinese side and the honor of visiting the exhibition on China's reform and opening up in the past 40 years. They said that they were deeply impressed with China's achievements, and that China’s development miracle is worth studying. They also said that as long-time neighbors, Japan and China will hopefully give full play to their respective advantages, promote common development between the two sides, and strive to create a better future.