On February 8, 2010, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with members attending the first meeting of the fifth 21st Century Committee for China-Japan Friendship in Beijing.

Yang said that China and Japan are close neighbors as well as big countries of great influence. The good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries not only serve their respective fundamental interests, but also are conducive to peace and prosperity of Asia and the world at large. In recent years, bilateral ties have continuously been improved and developed and both sides are committed to building their strategic reciprocal relations. Yang hoped that the new committee will make even greater contributions to pushing forward bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China will offer great support to the work of the committee.

Taizo Nishimuro, senior member of Japan, said that the Japanese committee members are ready to work with their Chinese colleagues to actively offer advice and suggestions for promoting Japan-China friendly cooperation.