On September 27, 2007, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China-Japan Friendship Association and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Beijing co-hosted a grand reception to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties. About 600 representatives from the two countries including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Lu Yongxiang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Li Guixian, President of the China-Japan Friendship Association Song Jian, and former Japanese Prime Ministers Mori Yoshiro and Tomiichi Murayama attended the reception. Addressing the event, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan emphasized that China and Japan are facing bright future and shoulder responsibilities in developing bilateral ties.

Tang said Chinese and Japanese politicians made strategic decision to normalize diplomatic relations 35 years ago, turning a new chapter of the Sino-Japanese ties. He said the China-Japan ties have witnessed ups and downs during the past 35 years, and now back to normal track for development due to joint efforts by both governments and peoples. Chinese and Japanese leaders kept frequent contacts and communication in the past year and reached important consensus on building China-Japan strategic reciprocal relations and on the target of peaceful co-existence, long-lasting friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, pushing bilateral ties to a new stage for development, said Tang. He called on the two countries to cherish this hard-won situation.

Tang pointed out that to develop Sino-Japanese relations and promote the two countries' common development not only conforms to common interest of the two peoples, and is also conducive to peace, development and stability of Asia and the world at large. "China and Japan are facing bright future and shoulder responsibilities in developing bilateral ties," Tang said. China would like to work with Japan to bear in mind the right direction of bilateral ties, firmly safeguard the political basis of bilateral ties and continuously push forward bilateral relations for long-term, sound and stable growth based on the three political documents including the China-Japan Joint Statement and by keeping in mind the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking to the future", Tang said. China is ready to work with Japan to build up political trust, expand common interest, increase people-to-people exchanges and actively promote mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas to push the Sino-Japanese ties to follow the trends of the times and move towards a better future.

Addressing the reception on behalf of the Japanese side, former Japanese Prime Ministers Mori Yoshiro and Tomiichi Murayama said the Japanese government and people are greatly encouraged by the obvious improvement of Japan-China ties. They said currently the two countries witness sound cooperation in fields of economy, culture, sports, friendly cities and youth exchanges. They expressed belief that under the leadership of the new Japanese government, bilateral ties will be further developed and the friendship between the two countries will move forward steadily in a long run. They suggested both sides join hands to abide by the principles in the three political documents and keep in mind the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and looking to the future" to jointly open up a bright future for bilateral ties. The Japanese side also wished the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games a great success.