Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

　　I had a sincere dialogue with Chinese leadership, and improved Sino-Japanese relations during my last visit to China last October. Our mutual aim is to promote cooperation between the two countries by building "a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests". It is established during the bilateral understanding and trust, accumulated by bilateral dialogues and activities in different fields.

　　This year is the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations; I hope the bilateral relationship will step onto a higher level through the Year of Cultural and Sports Exchange. Cultural communication between young people plays a very important role in strengthening two nations' mutual understanding. Since last year, the exchange of more than 1000 high school students between two nations has come into effect.

　　This year, a five-year exchange project, the "Pan-exchange Scheme", will invite 6000 youth from the member countries of East Asian Submit, particularly China, to visit Japan every year.
I believe this kind of exchange program will be an influential contribution to the Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations.

　　To ensure the success of Year of Cultural and Sports Exchange, our government will cooperate with Chinese side closely. The following 2008 Olympics in Beijing and 2010 World Expo in Shanghai will be the rare good opportunities for the exchange programs between two countries.

　　We expect the year of Cultural and Sports Exchanges between China and Japan will positively contribute to the communication and friendship of the two peoples, and we wish Japan, China, Asia, and the whole world a bright future.