19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum to be held in Beijing in October

By Liu Jianing | CICG, May 26, 2023

The organizers of the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum, China International Communications Group (CICG) and Japanese think tank Genron NPO, announced at a meeting on Thursday that the event will take place in Beijing in late October.

Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at a meeting on the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing on May 25, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

CICG President Du Zhanyuan said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which has brought lasting peace and prosperity to the two countries and the rest of East Asia. Du said the two sides should leverage the forum to enhance communication and cooperation while respecting each other's core interests and seeking common ground. He also said that he hopes the forum can set agendas in line with China-Japan relations in the new era, and improve mutual understanding and reach consensus on regional security, economic and trade cooperation, digital economy development, media cooperation, and youth exchanges through in-depth and candid dialogues.

Toshiro Muto, director general of the Japanese committee of the forum and former Tokyo 2020 CEO, speaks at a meeting on the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum via video link on May 25, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

Toshiro Muto, director general of the Japanese committee of the forum and former Tokyo 2020 CEO, said that the Beijing-Tokyo Forum has been successfully held for 18 years, and has become an influential event in the two countries and beyond. Muto said he looks forward to seeing that, through candid and in-depth communication, this year's forum would contribute to better bilateral relations and regional security and stability.

Guests from China and Japan take a group photo at a meeting on the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing on May 25, 2023. [Photo/CICG]

The two sides agreed that the forum should enhance communication and mutual understanding, and help the people of both countries to have a positive and forward-looking view of China-Japan relations. During the meeting, representatives also discussed the theme, content and survey questions of the forum.

Starting in 2005, the annual Beijing-Tokyo Forum has been held alternately between the two capitals, and it has become one of the largest and highest-level platforms of bilateral public diplomacy and non-governmental exchange.