On the afternoon of May 27, 2015, State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda of the Soka Gakkai of Japan at Zhongnanhai.

Yang Jiechi said that China attaches great importance to advancing China-Japan non-governmental exchanges and cooperation. Recently, President Xi Jinping attended the China-Japan Friendship Exchange Meeting and made an important speech, pointing out that China-Japan friendship is rooted among civilians, and the future of the China-Japan relations is in the hands of the two peoples. China is willing to join efforts with Japan to promote the bilateral relations for continuous improvement and development in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward into the future and on the basis of the four political documents between China and Japan. Yang Jiechi also spoke positively of the long-term and positive efforts that the Soka Gakkai has made for China-Japan friendship.

Hiromasa Ikeda said that President Xi Jinping’s important speech made at the China-Japan Friendship Exchange Meeting has received positive response in Japan. The Japanese groups friendly to China have been deeply inspired. The Soka Gakkai is willing to carry on its tradition, hold high the banner of Japan-China friendship, and make greater contribution to promoting bilateral non-governmental exchanges and the development of the Japan-China relations.