profound public support for China-Japan friendship here. Over the years, people from various sectors and friendship organizations of Japan have made active efforts to promote exchanges between the two countries. Friendship and cooperation have remained the mainstream of our relationship. The Japanese Government has played a positive role in China's modernization drive by making Japanese yen loans in support of China's infrastructure construction, environmental protection, energy development and scientific and technological advancement. In addition, Japanese friends from various sectors offered warm-hearted help to China in its course of modernization. The Chinese people will always remember those Japanese friends who have devoted themselves to China-Japan friendship.

The people of Japan are hardworking and talented. They are good at learning and making innovations. As early as 1,400 years ago, Japan sent envoys to China on more than 20 occasions in the Sui and Tang dynasties. They introduced China's institutions, decrees and regulations together with Buddhism, Chinese characters and technologies into Japan and applied them in the light of local conditions, leading to the formation of the unique Japanese culture. After the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese people worked hard to absorb the advanced achievements of world civilization and gradually developed Japan into the first modernized country in Asia. People of Japan have made remarkable achievements with limited land and natural resources. Japan now leads the world in manufacturing, information, finance and logistics and has an edge in the technologies of energy conservation and environmental protection. These are a source of pride for the Japanese people, and worth learning by the Chinese people too.

Here I wish to say a few words to the young friends of our two countries. Mr. Li Dazhao, who studied in this university, once said, young people should work to advance world civilization, promote mankind's well-being and inject fresh vigor into human society. The youth of our two countries are the new force for China-Japan friendship, and the future of this friendship relies on you. Youth affairs have long been part of my portfolio and I have thus developed a special attachment to young people. I enjoy being with young friends as I get to feel their vigor of youth and passion for life. In 1984, the Chinese Government invited 3,000 Japanese young people to China for a series of friendship activities between the young people of the two countries. I attended the whole event, spent days with these Japanese young people and established a deep friendship with them. Last June, we invited those Japanese friends who participated in the 1984 tour back to China. As we met each other again, we were overwhelmed by a flood of fond memories. I said in the address, "Time may change our look, but will never change our friendship." I learned from this experience that friendship fostered in the youth years will be our lifelong company. We must work jointly to sow the seeds of China-Japan friendship and make our friendship last from generation to generation.

This year is the China-Japan Youth Friendly Exchange Year. The two sides will host a wide range of activities of friendly exchanges. Here I would like to announce that the Chinese Government has decided to invite 100 Waseda University students to visit China. I hope that the students present today can join this program and come to see China.

Dear faculty members and students,

Dear friends,

In another three months, the 29th Summer Olympic Games will be held in Beijing. Prime Minister Fukuda shared with me the fond memories of the Japanese people of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and I fully understood how they felt. The Chinese people sincerely hope to stage a successful Beijing Olympic Games. By putting forward the slogan of "One World, One Dream," we aim to spread the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace and promote mutual understanding and friendship among people of the world through the Beijing Olympic Games. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Japanese Government and people from various sectors for your support in our preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games. I welcome our Japanese friends to Beijing to watch the Games and wish the Japanese athletes all the best at the Games.

Dear faculty members and students,

Dear friends,

On the front arch of the Waseda Theater Museum carved a famous line of William Shakespeare-All the world is a stage. Of all the plays that have been put on the big world stage, the people in the world have always acted the leading roles. I sincerely hope that people of China and Japan will stand hand-in-hand and shoulder-to-shoulder on the big stage for China-Japan cooperation, Asian rejuvenation and world peace and development to jointly create an even brighter future for China-Japan relations and for the whole world!

Thank you.

(Source: www. fmprc.gov.cn)