On October 20, 2025, the 18th China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference was held in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The event was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China-Japan Friendship Association, and the Japan-China Friendship Association.
The theme of this conference was "New Exchanges between Local Cities." Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC and Takehiro Funakoshi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, sent congratulatory messages to the conference. President of the Japan-China Friendship Association Tokuichiro Utsunomiya and CPAFFC Vice President Yuan Mindao delivered keynote speeches on behalf of the co-organizers. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao and Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa of Japan's Ibaraki Prefectural Government delivered remarks as guest representatives. More than 200 participants attended the conference and related activities, including representatives of friendship associations and foreign affairs offices from 16 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities; representatives of Japan-China friendship associations and subnational governments and parliamentary leaders from 18 Japanese prefectures; as well as leaders from various friendly sectors of two countries, members of the Japanese National Diet, and members of the Ibaraki prefectural assembly.
In his congratulatory message, President Yang Wanming stressed that people-to-people friendship is the wellspring of China-Japan relations and a proud tradition and valuable asset. Subnational exchanges and cooperation are an important part of bilateral relations and a key channel for advancing people-to-people friendship. President Yang noted that China-Japan relations are currently at a critical stage of improvement and development. Since last November's meeting between the two countries' leaders in Lima, dialogue and exchanges at all levels and across various fields have steadily advanced. A series of positive interactions has further enriched the contemporary meaning of the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship. He emphasized that people from all sectors in two countries should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, sustain and enhance the momentum of improved relations, explore new pathways for subnational cooperation, and contribute wisdom and strength to building a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship suited to the new era.
President Tokuichiro Utsunomiya reviewed the founding purpose of the Japan-China Friendship Association and the development of the China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference. He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 75th anniversary of the Association's founding. He recalled the words of his grandfather, Tokimatsu Utsunomiya, the Association's third president, who said that "China–Japan friendship is Japan's greatest security guarantee". Tokuichiro Utsunomiya stressed that drawing lessons from history and continuously pursuing friendship and peace represent the right course for fostering China-Japan relations and promoting stability and development in Asia and the world. He expressed hope that the conference would deepen ties among friendly organizations in two countries and play a positive role in promoting exchanges in fields such as the economy and culture.
Ambassador Wu Jianghao emphasized that people-to-people friendship is a fundamental cornerstone of China-Japan relations. As major countries in Asia and the world, China and Japan should uphold the East Asian wisdom of seeking harmony while respecting differences and working together in solidarity. He called on the two countries to actively promote regional cooperation and jointly respond to global challenges, thereby providing greater certainty and development momentum for the region and the world. He expressed hope that friendly organizations and people from all sectors in two countries would continue to uphold the banner of friendship, maintain confidence, keep pace with the times, and make greater contributions to the steady and long-term development of China-Japan relations and to regional and global peace and stability.
In his keynote speech, Vice President Yuan Mindao commended the Japan-China Friendship Association for its invaluable contributions over the past 75 years to rebuilding, improving, and advancing China-Japan relations. He emphasized that in the face of new circumstances, challenges, and opportunities, both sides should continue to champion the cause of China-Japan friendship, energize subnational exchanges, innovate the content and forms of exchange mechanisms, and create more platforms for youth interaction to provide sustained impetus for the steady and far-reaching development of bilateral relations.
Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa noted that Ibaraki Prefecture has established strong exchange ties with regions such as Shaanxi Province. He expressed his readiness to further promote exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy, culture, and subnational affairs, enhance mutual understanding and trust between the peoples of the two countries, and contribute to the advancement of China-Japan relations.
In his congratulatory message, Vice-Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro stated that people-to-people exchanges form the foundation for comprehensively advancing the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between China and Japan and for building a constructive and stable bilateral relationship. He expressed confidence that the dynamism and strengths of local cities in two countries would foster more vibrant and diverse exchanges.
Representatives from the two countries engaged in in-depth discussions on the conference theme, shared experiences and achievements, and exchanged plans for future cooperation. A joint initiative was adopted at the meeting, with participants expressing unanimous commitment to further strengthening the societal and public support for China-Japan friendship and to advancing practical exchanges and cooperation across various fields.
