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On November 30, 2020, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 16th Beijing-Tokyo Forum via video link.
Wang Yi said he has just concluded official visits to Japan and the ROK. During the visit to Japan, both sides confirmed the need to look to the future and build solid bilateral relations that respond to the needs of the new era, in the spirit of the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries. Five points of consensus and six concrete results were achieved during the visit. Among these, the “fast track” for staff exchanges was officially launched today, which is believed to provide important support to accelerate cooperation in the resumption of work and production and help economic recovery in the context of the pandemic.
Wang Yi said that COVID-19 made all countries of the world feel deeply that humanity is a community with a shared future and has once again demonstrated the traditional friendship between the Chinese and Japanese people. We will never forget that at the beginning of the outbreak in China, all parts of Japanese society donated supplies for pandemic prevention. The touching words of “miles away, but close to the heart” brought warmth to the people who were battling the virus. After the outbreak of the pandemic in Japan, the Chinese people shared their feelings and returned the favor. We also recalled the strong connection between the two peoples during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China and the 2011 Great Eastern Japan earthquake. When a family is in trouble, its neighbors all come to help. We always remember how important it is to have a good neighbor at any time and under any circumstances, and we are grateful to those people from the two countries who are working so hard to promote Sino-Japanese friendship.
Wang Yi said friendship between the two peoples has always been an important cornerstone of China-Japan relations. However, the current contrast of sentiments between the two peoples deserves attention and profound reflection. There are broad common interests between the two countries and conflicts and differences that need to be managed properly. We need to expand and promote common interests to make them the solid link between the two countries. We need to put our differences and sensitive issues in the right position and impose constructive scrutiny. We must respect each other in internal affairs and show our understanding and tolerance as close neighbors.
Wang Yi stressed that in a new era of information and intelligence, the mass and social media play an important role and have a special responsibility in mutual understanding and emotional interaction between the two peoples.
First, report true stories. The media of the two countries should avoid deliberately adapting when covering the other country, but fully present the real situation. China has won the battle against poverty and eliminated absolute poverty for the first time in history with the efforts of the entire nation. It is building an environmentally friendly society with a new development concept and following the path of green, low carbon and sustainable development. China is resolutely fighting corruption and defending integrity, which has led to a more transparent way of working for the party and the government. Independent polls by various international organizations have shown that the Chinese people’s satisfaction with the Party and the government has been over 90% for many years. These vivid facts should also be reported in the Japanese media objectively.
Second, convey goodwill. “To treasure harmony” and “to be kind to others” are the moral doctrines followed by the two peoples since ancient times. It should also be the work ethic pursued by the media in the two countries. As a public tool, the media can influence the peaceful coexistence and eternal friendship of the two peoples. We need to overcome differences in social systems and concepts, be more tolerant and friendly with each other, and promote better mutual understanding between the two peoples.
Third, to create the future together. When the world is undergoing huge invisible changes in a century, the media in the two countries must think about how to create a better world and how to bring people together, rather than push them away and instigate suspicion. Asia, home to both China and Japan, has become the most dynamic economy in the world and is committed to building a community with a shared future. Wang hopes that the media in the two countries will aim high and look far, gather positive energies for cooperation between China and Japan and show a new vision for development in Asia and around the world.
Launched in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is held once a year alternately in Beijing and Tokyo. It is a higher-level and larger-scale governmental and non-governmental interactive exchange platform between the two countries. The theme of this forum is “Post-pandemic international order and the role of China and Japan”.
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