A photo exhibition showcasing the lives of people in China's border regions opened on September 21 at the Aaron Cultural Center in Tokyo.

Hosted by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development (CFHRD), with co-sponsorship from the Japan-China Friendship Center and the Nationality Pictorial magazine, the exhibition attracted around 60 attendees, including representatives from Japan-China friendship organizations and prominent figures from Japan's academic and cultural circles, at the opening ceremony.

Qin Liang, deputy secretary-general of the CFHRD, spoke at the opening ceremony, noting that China has long been a home to multiple ethnic groups. He highlighted how these groups have worked collectively to develop China's border regions, building a unified homeland and contributing to the ongoing narrative of one Chinese family united in pursuit of the Chinese Dream.

Qin expressed hope that the exhibition would offer Japanese visitors a glimpse of a credible, respectable, and lovable China, fostering mutual understanding and trust, while promoting a positive atmosphere for peace and friendship between China and Japan.

A photo exhibition themed "People's Life in China's Border Areas" opened at the Aaron Cultural Center in Tokyo on September 21. (Photo by Zhu Chenxi/China News Service) 

Masashi Ogawa, president of the Japan-China Friendship Center, said that as a bilateral friendship business platform established by the Japanese and Chinese governments, the center has been committed to promoting cultural exchanges and youth exchanges between Japan and China, as well as the operation of government-sponsored students and language schools, and has made positive contributions to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

"We sincerely hope that this photo exhibition can deepen the mutual understanding between Japan and China and further promote the development of friendly relations," he said. 

Zhang Peilin, minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in Japan, underscored that this period is a crucial moment for the improvement and development of China-Japan relations. He recalled last year's meeting between the two countries' leaders, where they reached a consensus on enhancing people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields.

He expressed the hope that Japanese visitors would use this exhibition as an opportunity to deepen their understanding of China, foster exchanges, and explore China's border areas firsthand to witness the country's growth and the unity of its people.

The exhibition's nearly 100 photographs illustrate the rapid development of China's border regions, capturing the everyday lives and production activities of the ethnic groups living there, while also reflecting the natural beauty, culture, and customs of these regions. It will run until September 27.