Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda hailed the opening of the 8th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in a congratulatory letter on Sunday night, and pledged to strengthen Sino-Japan ties.

Noda, who was absent from the welcome dinner due to a busy domestic schedule, extended warm congratulations on the opening of the forum which was sponsored jointly by China Daily and Genron NPO, a Japanese non-profit organization, in the letter.

Various ceremonial activities are being held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, reflecting the deep and enduring level of bilateral exchanges, wrote Noda.

China's development is an opportunity for the international community including Japan, Noda wrote, adding that the two sides should work together to respond to regional and global issues in order to contribute to the peace and prosperity in the region and the world, as well as enhancing bilateral cooperation. And he is determined to work closely with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to realize these goals.

Founded in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is an annual large-scale international symposium.

It aims to provide a non-governmental exchange platform and improve ties between China and Japan through high-level dialogue and exchanges of opinions between these close countries. .

The forum is the highest-level public diplomatic communication platform between China and Japan.