In a significant move towards strengthening bilateral relations, China and Japan reached a 10-point consensus on people-to-people and cultural exchanges on Wednesday. The agreement encompasses a wide range of areas, including education, tourism, and sports, aiming to foster deeper connections between the two nations.
The consensus was finalized during the second meeting of a high-level consultation mechanism in Beijing, attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya.
The first point of the agreement focuses on promoting youth exchange visits and supporting study trips between the two countries, underscoring the importance of nurturing young global citizens. Education cooperation is also a key component, with plans to strengthen the exchange of overseas students and establish sister schools and higher education institutions to facilitate inter-school collaboration.
Tourism cooperation takes center stage in the third point, with both nations committed to introducing more facilitation measures to encourage mutual visits by tourists. Additionally, the consensus emphasizes building bridges between sister cities, leveraging platforms like the China-Japan Governor Forum and the Culture Cities of East Asia to expand friendly exchanges at the local level.
Sports exchanges are also set to receive a boost, with mutual support for hosting major events such as the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The agreement further highlights cooperation in cultural and entertainment industries, including film, television, music, publishing, and games, aiming to enrich the cultural landscape of both countries.
Media and think tank collaborations are encouraged to enhance public opinion environments, while exchanges between women's groups will focus on promoting gender equality and empowerment. Notably, China has invited Japan to participate in the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
The World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, is set to become a pivotal platform for fostering exchanges and friendship, with China supporting Japan's hosting efforts and Japan assisting in the preparation and operation of the China Pavilion.
Looking ahead, the two nations will hold the third meeting of their high-level consultation mechanism in Japan, continuing their commitment to deepening cultural and people-to-people ties.
This agreement comes as next year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of remembering this history to draw lessons and cherish the hard-won peace, expressing optimism for a future of peaceful development and stable China-Japan relations.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya echoed this sentiment, stating Japan's willingness to enhance the quality of people-to-people exchange projects and take more measures to facilitate personnel exchanges.
Reference(s):
China, Japan reach 10-point consensus on people-to-people exchanges
cgtn.com
