On September 23, 2025, Vice President Yuan Mindao of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with a youth delegation from Nagano Prefecture, Japan, at the CPAFFC, led by Yuji Miyamoto, President of the Japan-China Friendship Center.
Vice President Yuan extended a warm welcome to the delegation, noting that this 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, a significant occasion to reflect on history and the importance of peace. He emphasized that the future of China-Japan relations lies with the youth, and that the CPAFFC attaches great importance to youth exchanges. He expressed a desire to create more platforms to allow more Japanese youth to gain an authentic understanding of China and build friendships with their Chinese counterparts. Vice President Yuan also expressed his hope that the members of the delegation would use this visit as an opportunity to become active promoters, enthusiastic ambassadors, and steadfast supporters of China-Japan friendship.
Yuji Miyamoto expressed his gratitude to the CPAFFC for the invitation and thoughtful arrangements. He shared that the delegation members, from two high schools in Nagano Prefecture, would engage in cultural exchanges with Chinese youth, including activities in music and calligraphy, during their visit. He also reaffirmed that the Japan-China Friendship Center would continue its efforts to promote exchanges between young people of the two countries and nurture future advocates of China-Japan friendship.
Sonoda Osamu, Embassy of Japan in China Minister-Counselor; Zhu Dan, Director-General of the Department of East Asian Affairs of the CPAFFC; Xu Qiang, Secretary-General of the Hebei Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; and Li Feng, Founder and Honorary President of the Beijing Hefeng Art Foundation, attended the event.
The delegation is visiting China at the invitation of the CPAFFC under the framework of the Memorandum on Enhancing Youth Exchange Between China and Japan. During their visit, they will tour Beijing and Hebei and collaborate with the art troupe of the Beijing Hefeng Art Foundation to host a music exchange performance in Xiong'an.
