The 6th Beijing-Tokyo Forum co-organized by China Daily and Genron NPO, a Japanese non-profit think tank, kicked off at 9 am local time on August 30 at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo.

This year’s forum focuses on the future of Asia and Sino-Japanese contributions. Zhu Ling, China Daily’s editor-in-chief, and Takashi Anzai, chairman of the Board of Seven Bank Ltd., welcomed the representatives from both countries.

Cheng Yonghua, China’s Ambassador to Japan and Yoshito Sengoku, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary gave welcoming speeches on behalf of the two governments.

Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information Office, Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, chairman of the board of directors of BOAO Forum for Asia and Chen Haosu, president of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, spoke on the meeting.

More than 800 representatives from various circles of both sides attended the forum and will carry out dialogues on politics, economics, media, security and regions issues in two comprehensive meetings and five panel forums.

The Beijing-Tokyo Forum has been held alternately in China and Japan since August 2005. The annual gathering is one of the most significant platforms for non-governmental communication between the two countries.

Video: Huang Lan & Christie Lee

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