The corridor outside the Beijing Hall in the Great Hall of the People presented the 40-year friendship and cooperation between China and Japan.

The 18 boards displayed the economic and trading achievements between China and Japan. Photos included Deng Xiaoping and then-prime minister Takeo Fukuda attending the exchanging ceremony of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship 40 years ago; the Baogang Group’s No 1 Blast Furnace that went into production in 1985; the first Skoda bus under the Toyota brand rolling off the production line in Chengdu in 2000; and the reception commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship held in Japan in May.

Premier Li Keqiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the exhibition on Oct 25. Then they attended the a reception commemorating the 40-year-anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. About 800 representatives from the two countries also attended the reception.

Despite the ups and downs of bilateral relations in the past 40 years, peace, amity, and cooperation remain as the mainstream direction, Premier Li said.

The two sides shall stick to this direction and follow the trend of times to build more matured, pragmatic and progressive China-Japan relations, for it is the best way to commemorate the treaty and also the mission of the era shared by the two countries, he said.

Over the past 40 years since the country’s reform and opening-up, China has gained tremendous development and Japan has been moving forward with China, Abe said.

He said they would review the pledges made by the older generations of leaders of both countries and offer an opportunity for developing a new bilateral relationship.

Good expectations for China-Japan ties

The two prime ministers posed for photos with representatives involved in the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and their families.

Premier Li said at the reception that the strategic decision of signing the treaty 40 years ago was an important milestone for China-Japan ties after the normalization of diplomatic relations.

He said the treaty laid down the general direction of peaceful coexistence and friendship of generations by law, and confirmed all the principles in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, which included Japan’s stand in profound reflection on its responsibilities on wars and the one-China policy, and clearly stated that the two nations shall develop a constant and peaceful friendship.

Premier Li added he believes the two countries, after 40 years of the treaty, have the wisdom and capability to promote the stable development of ties.

The four political documents, including the treaty, have laid the foundation for bilateral relations and serve as the basic guide for healthy ties, he added.

Abe said the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship maps out the important principles and direction of bilateral ties, and he would like to work with Premier Li to push ahead with China-Japan friendship.

Work together for sustainable development of ties

Premier Li said this year also marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up policy, which has not only brought remarkable achievements to China, but also greatly influenced the world, the Premier said, adding that the policy will not be changed in the future.

He said China is deepening reform, speeding up the transformation of old and new economic drivers and promoting high-quality development. The country also is widening opening-up at a higher level, which will provide more room for higher level cooperation.

China welcomes Japan to join in the new round of opening-up, and will create a favorable business environment in which both domestic and foreign enterprises will be treated equally, Premier Li said.

He then called on attending Japanese entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity.

Premier Li said as the current regional and international situations are undergoing complex changes, a positively developing China-Japan relationship on the right track reveals huge potential of cooperation, as well as challenges.

Therefore the two sides should work to promote stable and sustainable development of China-Japan relations, he added.

Abe said China and Japan played irreplaceable roles in the economic development of Asia and the world, and he hopes the two sides will promote the sustainable development of Sino-Japanese friendly cooperation and contribute to world peace and prosperity.

Although China and Japan have gone through hardships in their relations since the signing of the treaty 40 years ago, they gained fruitful results, Premier Li said, adding that they will join hands for a brighter future for their relations.