On October 23, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met a Japanese friendship delegation led by former Prime Minister of Japan Fukuda Yasuo at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Wang Yi said, this year marks the 45th anniversary of concluding the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and an important year for bilateral relations to take stock of the past and envision the future. Today is the anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty, which is an important day to commemorate together. Forty-five years ago, leaders of the two countries reviewed the situation and made the strategic decision to conclude a treaty of peace and friendship. They legally confirmed the principles laid down in the China-Japan Joint Communiqué and set out the direction for the development of bilateral relations. The two sides should take the 45th anniversary of concluding the Treaty as an opportunity to draw lessons from history, open up the future, stay true to the original intention and keep pace with the times, and jointly build a China-Japan relationship that answers the call of the new era.

Wang Yi pointed out that China-Japan relations are currently facing a complicated situation, which does not serve the interests of the two peoples. He expressed the hope that the Japanese government will return its China policy to a positive, pragmatic and correct track as soon as possible. Prime Minister Fukuda Takeo, who concluded the Treaty, expressed to Mr. Deng Xiaoping that the Treaty of Peace and Friendship built a solid "iron bridge" between the two countries. Now, 45 years later, the two sides should not let this "iron bridge" rust or collapse. Instead, the two sides should work together to continuously strengthen it and turn it into a "steel bridge" and a strong bond linking the two peoples. State-to-state relations are, in the final analysis, relations between the people of the two countries. Wang Yi expressed the hope that visionary people from all walks of life in Japan will continue to carry forward the tradition of promoting official relations through people-to-people exchange and make unremitting efforts for the cause of China-Japan friendship.

Fukuda Yasuo said that Japan and China are neighboring countries and bilateral relations are very important. Japan is ready to take the 45th anniversary of concluding the Treaty of Peace and Friendship as an opportunity to maintain high-level exchanges with China, increase trust and dispel doubts, deepen exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, and people-to-people and cultural engagement, among others, and promote the steady development of Japan-China relations.