The Sino-Japan Friendship and People-to-people Exchange Forum, co-hosted by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the Japan-China Friendship Center, was held in Tokyo on September 23, with nearly 60 experts and scholars from China and Japan attending the forum.

The theme of this year's forum is "China-Japan people-to-people exchanges under the century of change". Participants held in-depth discussions on topics such as "China-Japan relations in the context of globalization", "China-Japan people-to-people exchanges in the post-COVID-19 era" and "Role of youth in promoting China-Japan people-to-people exchanges and ties". The Chinese Embassy in Japan provided support for the forum.

Qin Liang, deputy secretary-general of the China Foundation for Human Rights Development, said in his speech that the foundation of China-Japan friendship lies in the people and the future of China-Japan relations is in the hands of the two peoples.

As long as China and Japan uphold a correct attitude toward history, stay committed to the common path and actively promote exchanges and mutual learning, we can continuously improve the public support for bilateral exchanges, promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples, and pass on the torch of peace and friendship between China and Japan from generation to generation, said Qin.

Yuji Miyamoto, former Japanese ambassador to China and president of the Japan-China Friendship Center, expressed the hope that this forum will serve as an opportunity to start a new people-to-people exchange and enhance mutual understanding.

With the increase of such dialogues, various issues between the two countries will be better settled and the bilateral relations will be further improved, said Miyamoto.

Shi Yong, minister of the Chinese embassy in Japan, pointed out that the two sides should take the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries as the guidance, constantly strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, enhance the understanding and trust of the two peoples, inject vitality to the China-Japan friendship cause, and consolidate the public support for the development of China-Japan relations.

The Chinese delegation was invited to visit relevant social organizations, institutions of higher learning and media organizations in Japan ahead of the forum.