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On the afternoon of April 26, DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi (Chair of Japan-China “Exchange and Discussion Mechanism”) received a courtesy call from the Chair of the Committee for China-Japan Friendship, Tang Jiaxuan.
At the start of the meeting, Jiaxuan reported that the previous visit to China by Koshiishi and other members of a DPJ delegation for the Japan-China “Exchange and Discussion Mechanism” had been highly praised in China for its achievements. Koshiishi offered his sincere congratulations on Jiaxuan’s appointment as Chair of the Committee for China-Japan Friendship and expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome the DPJ delegation had received while in China.
Jiaxuan mentioned that he would like to exchange opinions frankly and open-heartedly regarding the further promotion of a mutually beneficial strategic relationship and ways to deepen communication and cooperation between two countries. In particular, he stated that both Japan and China need to enhance the emotions of friendliness held by the citizens through various memorial events during this, the 40th anniversary year of the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries, a friendship year for Japan-China people-to-people exchanges.
Koshiishi said, “It would be nice to have a heart-to-heart talk on future relations.” He reported that the DPJ and Communist Party of China had agreed to establish a “hotline” for communication during the DPJ delegation’s visit to China last month.
The meeting was also attended by Acting Secretary General Shinji Tarutoko, Vice President Kenji Yamaoka, Secretary General of the DPJ Caucus in the House of Councillors Yasuo Ichikawa, Administration Committee Chair Hideo Hiraoka, and Vice Directors-General of International Department, Shinkun Haku and Shino Aihara.
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