Beijing: In an effort to improve Chinese sentiment toward Japan, a Japanese animation film festival has opened here. “Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalisation of relations between Japan and China,” Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro said.
“I hope the events will increase (bilateral) exchange in the audiovisual area and lead to better understanding of the feelings of people of the two countries,” Gemba said while addressing a function to launch the Japan Animation Festival here. The Festival will run through December in Beijing and Shanghai.
Gemba was here for talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and other senior Chinese officials to prepare for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s planned visit to China in December.
About 300 people from the two countries, including Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu, attended the ceremony at the Japanese ambassador’s residence.
The Japanese government hopes the festival will improve Chinese sentiment toward Japan, a key goal for developing overall ties and deepening the two countries’ strategic relationship for mutual benefit, according to Japanese officials.
The government also hopes that through the events, a greater number of Chinese people will have access to Japanese culture and the two countries will do more business in the audiovisual area.
The festival features the 10 latest episodes of popular Japanese animation series including Doraemon, Naruto and Neon Genesis Evangelion. There will also be live performances by Japanese singers of animation songs. (Reuters)
Organising the event was agreed on in May 2010 by Chinese Premier Wen and then Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama as part of efforts to promote understanding between the people of the two countries. Another event, “A week for Japanese films and TV dramas,” was held in June in Beijing and Shanghai. After the World War-II and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, Beijing’s relations with Tokyo have improved despite lingering distrust over Beijing’s growing military might.