At the joint invitation of Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sino-Japanese Cultural Exchanges Association, Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng visited Japan at the head of a fifteen-person Chinese Cultural Week Organizing Committee Delegation during April 1-5 to attend the Chinese Cultural Week opening ceremony series activities. The delegation is composed of members from Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Council Information Office and State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. As an important move in celebration of the 30th anniversary of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, the opening ceremony series activities have evoked strong repercussions in Japan.

On the evening of April 2, a reception for the opening of Chinese Cultural Week and Japanese

Cultural Week was solemnly held at Tokyo's Akasaka Prince Hotel. Sun Jiazheng, Chinese Minister of Culture and president of the Organizing Committee and Ide Nobuyuki, chairman of Japanese Operation Committee and president of Sony Corporation spoke on behalf of sponsors of each country at the reception. Li Peng, visiting chairman of National People's Congress of China Standing Committee and Koizumi Junichirou, Japanese Prime Minister attended the meeting on invitation, each making a speech. Japanese former prime minister Kaifu Toshiki, Haneda Hjime, Murayama Tomiichi and Mori Yoshiro, Japanese Foreign Minister Kawaguti Junko, Minister of Finance Siokawa Seijurou, Minister of Education and Science Touyama Ataku and people from all circles, 1,500 in all, attended the reception. The success of the opening reception has initiated an auspicious beginning for Chinese Cultural Week.

During his visiting in Japan, Sun Jiazheng gave a public lecture at Tokyo entitled, Opening up brilliant prospects for Sino-Japanese cultural relations in joint efforts, and held a joint press conference with chairman of Japanese Operation Committee Ide Nobuyaki. Sun Jiazheng and his party paid an official call on Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichirou and interviewed Japanese Foreign Minister Kawaguti Junko, Minister of Culture and Science Touyama Ataku, director of Culture Agency Kawai Hayao, Deputy Foreign Minister Uetaka Sigeo, chief of Japan-China Cultural Exchanges Association Tujii Takashi, former Prime Minister Murayama Tomiichi, chairman of Japan-China Friendship Association Hirayami Ikuo, former Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of Japan-China Friendship Guild Gotouda Masakaru and people in all circles. Both parties exchanged views and reached a consensus.

Sun Jiazheng and his party also attended the picture show of Course of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations in 30 years and watched together with Japanese Minister of Culture and Science Touyama Atako the premiere of the opening concert given by the Central Nationalities Orchestra in celebration of the 30th anniversary of normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, which were warmly welcomed by an audience of 2,000. Besides, The performance of martial arts given by the Buddhist monks from the Shaolin Monastery in Central China's Henan Province were again well received by audience.

(April 2, 2002)