On September 10, 2025, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with Banli Kaieda, former Vice Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, Standing Advisor of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Member of the House of Representatives, as well as CDP Members of the House of Representatives Yoichiro Aoyagi and Yuichi Kamiya. The delegation was in China at the invitation of the CPAFFC to attend the 2025 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges.
President Yang Wanming extended a warm welcome to Banli Kaieda and his delegation to China for the forum, and commended their longstanding commitment to China-Japan relations. He praised their active support for friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between the two countries across various fields, as well as their positive efforts and contributions to improving and developing bilateral ties. President Yang noted that since its successful inception in 2023, the Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges, now in its third edition, has played a key role in enhancing friendly exchanges between Chinese and foreign legislators, promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation, and fostering people-to-people ties.
President Yang also highlighted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, providing a significant moment to reflect on history, address present challenges, and look toward the future. At this crucial stage of improving and advancing China-Japan relations, both countries should implement the important agreements reached at the leaders' meeting in Lima last November. He called for the continued development of a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship between China and Japan along the right track, the expansion of practical cooperation in trade and other sectors to inject new momentum into bilateral ties, and the promotion of cultural exchanges, particularly youth exchanges, to solidify the foundation of people-to-people friendship. In response, Banli Kaieda expressed gratitude to the CPAFFC for the invitation to attend the forum and stated that he looked forward to visiting Xinjiang to learn more about its economic and social development.
Banli Kaieda further remarked that Japan and China are important neighbors, and it is crucial to maintain a healthy and stable relationship between the two countries. He expressed his willingness to work closely with the CPAFFC to facilitate more exchanges between young Japanese legislators and their Chinese counterparts, allowing them to experience a true, well-rounded, and multidimensional view of China. This would contribute to the ongoing improvement of Japan-China relations. Yoichiro Aoyagi and Yuichi Kamiya also spoke about the exchange programs they are involved in, expressing the commitment to fostering greater mutual understanding between Japan and China through cultural exchanges and other means, thus advancing the development of Japan-China friendship.
Zhu Dan, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC, among others, were present at the meeting.
