On March 23, 2012, Li Yuanchao, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with a delegation of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) headed by DPJ Secretary-General Azuma Koshiishi at the Great Hall of the People.

Li extended welcome for the delegation’s visit and attendance at the fourth meeting of exchange mechanism between the DPJ and the Communist Party of China (CPC). He said this year is the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Over the past 40 years, China and Japan have conducted friendly cooperation based on peaceful coexistence, which not only brought tangible benefits to both peoples, but also benefited peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. He hoped both sides will jointly review the past and look to the future through the CPC-DPJ exchange mechanism so as to strengthen political exchanges. He also urged both sides to deepen pragmatic cooperation, improve the national feelings of the two countries and make new contributions to peace and friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development.

Azuma Koshiishi expressed willingness to take the CPC-DPJ exchange mechanism as a platform to engage in frank exchanges with the Chinese side, promote the Japan-China cooperation in various fields and make unremitting efforts for the development of relations between the two parties and countries.