On May 31, 2010, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended a welcome luncheon given in his honor by the Japanese Business Federation and delivered a speech.

The Chinese premier introduced to the participants what the Chinese government has achieved in tackling the global financial crisis, as well as China's current economic situation and its major tasks. He also answered questions from Japanese entrepreneurs.

Wen said great progress has been made in bilateral economic and trade relations since the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1972. China and Japan have become a major trade partner to each other, bringing their economic ties increasingly closer and paving the way for a greater future for cooperation. The Chinese premier expressed his hope that the two countries would always keep in mind the long-term development of the bilateral ties, continue to draw on each other's strength and broaden cooperation in energy conservation, environmental protection and circular economy so as to achieve a win-win result. Premier Wen noted that the Japanese business community has all along been committed to promoting the friendly cooperation between the two countries, serving as a major force to boost the bilateral cooperation and a key link between the two peoples. It is his hope that Japanese entrepreneurs will further contribute to economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Hiromasa Yonekura, president of the Japanese Business Federation, said Japanese entrepreneurs have confidence in China's future development and are ready to blaze new trails in pushing forward the bilateral economic and trade cooperation.