China and Japan opened the "year of cultural and sports
exchanges" activities in Beijing on Monday to mark the 35th
anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic
relations.
The Japanese will organize a series of activities in China
during the following week, including a vocal concert hosted in
Beijing involving Chinese and Japanese pop music stars, a Japanese
film festival, as well as the touring of a Japanese band and a
Japanese drama around China.
Activities organized by the Chinese in Japan will start in
mid-April in Tokyo.
At a reception held by the Japanese embassy in Beijing, Asano
Katsuhito, Japan's senior vice-minister of foreign affairs, said
Japan hopes to introduce itself to the Chinese people through these
activities, in a bid to strengthen mutual understanding.
Meng Xiaosi, vice-minister of culture of China, said China also
attaches great importance to the exchange and will hold nearly a
hundred activities over the next year.
The year of cultural and sports exchanges between China and
Japan will positively contribute to the communication and
friendship of the two peoples, she added.
The logo of the activities was issued at the reception, and is
in the shape of a heart formed by the two letters "C" and "J," to
accompany the slogan, "expectation of heart, a new future."
Some 200 Chinese and Japanese people from all walks of life
attended the Beijing reception.
China and Japan have taken many actions to further improve their
ties since Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo's visit to China last
October, and the "year of cultural and sports exchanges" was set by
Chinese and Japanese leaders during Abe's visit.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is scheduled to visit Japan in
April.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2007)