问：关于中日人文交流，你刚才发布王毅国务委员访问日本的消息时说，他将主持中日高级别人文交流磋商机制首次会议。据我所知，今年也是中日青少年交流促进年。请问你如何评价人文交流在中日两国关系中的作用？

　　答：在中日两国交往史上，人文交流为推动中日关系的改善和发展发挥了十分独特和重要的作用。前不久，“2019中国节”活动在日本东京圆满落幕，活动现场气氛热烈，体验中华文化的日本友人络绎不绝，这从一个侧面再次证明中日两国之间的人文纽带十分紧密。

Q: About cultural and people-to-people exchange between China and Japan. As you announced, State Councilor Wang will chair the first meeting of China-Japan high-level consultation on cultural and people-to-people exchange. I know this year is also the China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year. My question is, how do you evaluate such exchange in bilateral relations between China and Japan?

A: People-to-people exchange has played an unique and important role in the development and improvement of China-Japan relationship. The 2019 China Festival was concluded just recently in Tokyo, during which many Japanese experienced the Chinese culture with enthusiasm. This testifies to the fact that close ties have been forged between our peoples.

　　大家可能都还记得1984年中日青年友好联欢活动，当时3000名日本青年访华，在两国关系史上写下了浓墨重彩的一笔。今年是中日青少年交流促进年，中日双方已共同商定，将在未来5年内安排3万名青少年实现交流互访。

　　作为一衣带水的邻邦，中日两国的人文交流一直广泛而深入。2018年，中日两国人员往来达到1200万人次，每周直飞的航班超过1400班，双方结交的友城也超过了250对。可以说，进一步加强双方人文交流，是中日各界人士的共同愿望。

You may also recall an activity for friendship between the Chinese and Japanese youngsters, during which as many as 3,000 young Japanese men and women visited China in 1984, which was a highlight in our bilateral relations. In this China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year, our two sides have decided to send 30,000 young people to each other's country for cultural exchange and mutual learning in the next 5 years.

As close neighbors facing each other across a narrow strip of water, China and Japan have all along enjoyed wide-ranging and in-depth cultural and people-to-people exchange. In 2018, 12 million visits were made between our two countries, and every week there were over 1,400 direct flights made between us. China and Japan have more than 250 pairs of sister cities. I believe closer cultural and people-to-people ties are what our two peoples aspire for.

　　正如我刚刚介绍的，此次王毅国务委员访问日本期间的一项重要日程就是与日方共同启动中日高级别人文交流磋商机制并举行首次会议，双方将就推动两国文化、教育、体育、旅游、媒体、影视、地方、妇女、青少年等各领域合作深入交换意见，共同规划2020年交流项目，努力打造一个多元互动、精彩纷呈的人文交流新格局。

　　中方愿同日方一道，发挥好中日高级别人文交流磋商机制的作用，进一步拉紧两国人文纽带，促进两国民众相知相近相亲，让中日关系更加坚实、更有韧性、更暖人心。

As I announced, one important item on State Councilor Wang's agenda during the upcoming visit is to launch the China-Japan high-level consultation on cultural and people-to-people exchange with the Japanese side and co-chair the first meeting of this mechanism. The two sides will discuss collaboration in culture, education, sports, tourism, media, film and TV programs, youth- and women-related programs, as well as sub-national cooperation. We will jointly plan for exchange programs for the year 2020 with a view to a new pattern of cultural and people-to-people exchange featuring diversification and interaction.

By carrying out the China-Japan high-level consultation on cultural and people-to-people exchange, China is ready to work with Japan to forge closer ties, greater mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, so that our bilateral relations will be more solid, resilient and heart-warming.