When Premier Zhu Rongji was at the conference period of East Asian Alliance and China-Japan-Korea (10+3) Conference in 2000, the three leaders of China, Japan and Korea reached a consensus of holding A Year of Exchanges among China, Japan and Korea in 2002 In commemoration of 30th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relations between China and Japan and 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Korea. At present, the three governments of China, Japan and Korea and the various circles in the nongovernmental organizations are actively preparing for the various activities for A Year of Exchanges.

Approved by the State Council, the Chinese side has founded the Organizing Committee for A Year of Exchanges between China, Japan and Korea on the Chinese side, consisting of 17 Ministries and Commissions and organizations with Minister Sun Jiazheng of the Cultural Ministry as Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

The purpose of holding A Year of Exchanges is to make a better mutual understanding and trust between the peoples of China, Japan and Korea, to promote the friendship relationship between the three nations to face 21st century, and to promote the peace and development in Asia and even the whole world with bilateral and multilateral exchanging activities. During the period of the activities of A Year of Personnel Exchanges among China, Japan and Korea, excellent performances will be given one after another and climaxes will occur repeatedly on the stage of cultural exchanges among China, Japan and Korea. Under the mutual concern of the three governments of China, Japan and Korea and with the common efforts made by the people from all walks of life devoting enthusiastically in the development of the cultural exchanges among the three nations, the activities of A Year of Personnel Exchanges among the Peoples of China, Japan and Korea are sure to achieve a compete success, the friendship and trust between the peoples of China and Japan and between the peoples of China and Korea are sure to be further consolidated and strengthened, and the undertaking of cultural exchanges among China, Japan and Korea is sure to achieve even greater development.