China-Japan ties for next 50 years

The China-Japan Joint Statement, inked by the two countries' governments on Sept 29, 1972, put a complete end to the post-war confrontation and isolation between Beijing and Tokyo, ushering in a new historical chapter. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic ties this year, it is a right occasion to honor the strategic vision and political courage of the older generation leaders, and also the firm conviction of the two peoples to pursue peace and development.

Over the past half century, China and Japan have established close communication and increased exchanges on many fronts. The number of people traveling between the two sides annually increased to 12 million before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Bilateral trade reached $371.4 billion in 2021. The two sides have also established more than 260 pairs of sister provinces and cities.

Besides, China and Japan have supported each other during difficult times such as the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In the joint fight against COVID-19, many touching stories between our two peoples gave true meaning to the verse that "Though we live in different lands, the same moon and sky make us one".