On the evening of May 30, 2010, Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao attended the welcome dinner hosted by seven Japan-China friendship groups and four overseas Chinese bodies in Tokyo.

Amidst warm applauses, Wen made an extemporaneous speech to express gratitude to the Japanese friendship groups and personnel who are committed to promoting the development of China-Japan relations. When I paid the “ice-melting” trip sincerely to Japan 3 years ago, I felt deeply the heart and conscience of Chinese and Japanese people can communicate and the Japanese people have friendly feelings toward the Chinese people. During the past 3 years, China-Japan relations were improved and returned to the track of healthy development. Although the two countries still have some problems and differences and our people have some misunderstandings, I firmly believe the foundation of China-Japan friendship lies in the people and we must carry forward and advance the undertaking of China-Japan friendship, said Wen.

He pointed out that trust is very important to people-to-people contacts as well as to country-to-country exchanges. To develop China-Japan relations, the key is to increase understanding and build mutual trust.

He stressed that we adhere to taking history as a mirror to guide the future. We never mean to continue the hatred but to cherish the hard-won peace and avoid the repeat of historical tragedy.

He noted that the world today is experiencing major changes and major readjustments and all countries face the challenge of handling the international financial crisis. China and Japan enjoy a wide range of areas of cooperation and have many undertakings to be promoted jointly. The two countries should help each other to overcome difficulties, strengthen friendly cooperation and seek common development.

He ended the speech with an extempore Han Haiku that “ice has melted into water in spring; mountain looks especially jade green after a rainfall and exuberant plants hang down in clusters”. “I send it to you all.”

Masahiko Komura, president of the Association of Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship delivered a welcome speech to Wen on behalf of the friendship groups. He noted that Japan and China should boost non-governmental contacts, deepen mutual understanding, improve friendship between their people, reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation and further enhance their friendly cooperation.

During the dinner, Wen expressed greetings and talked cordially with the Japanese friends.

The dinner was hosed by Japan-China Friendship Association, the Japanese Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Japan-China Cultural Exchange Association, Association of Dietmen League for Japan-China Friendship, Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade, Japan-China Society, Japan-China Friendship Center, the General Federation of Japan-Based Chinese, the New Overseas Chinese Association in Japan, Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Japan and China Enterprises Association in Japan. About 400 people, including the Japanese friendship personnel from all walks of life and representatives of overseas Chinese in Japan, attended the dinner.

Prior to the dinner, Wen met with Japan’s non-governmental friendship groups and personnel. He presented awards to them for their major contributions to promoting China-Japan friendship and to encourage them to continue to play a positive role in the process of pushing forward China-Japan relations.