Japan-China anniversary ceremony to be held in Beijing on Sept. 8

August 24, 2017

BEIJING- A ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary this year of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China is likely to be held in Beijing on Sept. 8, sources familiar with bilateral relations said Thursday.

The event, to be hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and others, is expected to take place at the Great Hall of the People, the sources said. Such a ceremony will be the first in 10 years.

Participants from Japan will include former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono, head of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade, and former home affairs minister Takeshi Noda, chief of the Japan-China Society.

From China, senior Communist Party officials are expected to join the event. The 35th anniversary ceremony in 2007 was attended by then Premier Wen Jiabao.

The 40th anniversary ceremony in 2012 was canceled at the last minute after China was angered by Japan's nationalization of three islands in the Senkaku chain in the East China Sea. The Senkakus are claimed by China, where they are known as Diaoyu. Jiji Press