On this day, 47 years ago, October 22, 1978 (September 21, 1978 in the lunar calendar), Deng Xiaoping went to Japan for a visit. Exchange ceremony of ratifications of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship On October 22, 1978, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping of the State Council, at the invitation of the Japanese government, went to Japan for an official goodwill visit and attended the exchange ceremony of ratifications of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. This is the first time that a national leader of my country has visited Japan. During the eight-day visit, Vice Premier Deng met with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, and met with friends from all walks of life in Japan who have long made efforts for Sino-Japanese friendship. On October 23, at a welcome banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, Vice Premier Deng said: "Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai showed great concern for the cause of Sino-Japanese friendship during their lifetime. In September 1972, former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and former Foreign Minister Masahiro Ohira visited China. The leaders of the two governments signed a joint statement, normalized diplomatic relations and opened a new chapter in the history of relations between the two countries. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, relations between the two countries have achieved significant development in all aspects." "Especially on August 12, 1978, China and Japan concluded a treaty of peace and friendship on the basis of the China-Japan Joint Statement, thus realizing the long-standing common aspirations of the two peoples. This is very worthy of celebration." Vice Premier Deng said that the China people are striving to build China into a modern and powerful socialist country. "We need a long-term peaceful international environment, and we are willing to develop friendly and cooperative relations with people of all countries. Although China and Japan have different social systems, the two countries should and can live in peace and friendship." On October 23, Japanese Emperor Hirohito and Empress Yoshiko received Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping and his wife Zhuo Lin at the Royal Palace and had a friendly conversation with them. During the meeting, His Majesty the Emperor said that Japan and China have a long history of friendship. Although there were unfortunate incidents for a while, they have become a thing of the past. He hopes to deepen the goodwill between the two countries in the future and maintain peace for a long time. Vice Premier Deng said: We also believe that this treaty has far-reaching significance. The past is in the past. In the future, we must establish peaceful relations between the two countries with a forward-looking attitude. This treaty is a political summary of the relations between the two countries so far and a new starting point for further developing bilateral relations. This treaty is not only of great significance to the continued friendship between our two countries, but also of great significance to peace and stability in Asia and the Pacific, and to world peace. On October 29, before leaving, Vice Premier Deng delivered a speech to Japanese reporters at the Royal Hotel in Osaka and said: "This time, thanks to the warm reception and careful arrangements of the Japanese government and friends from all walks of life, we have successfully completed various friendly visits. Activities, China and Japan exchanged instruments of ratification of the treaty and solemnly declared the entry into force of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. We have jointly completed a historical task of great significance." Vice Premier Deng said: "We would like to express our gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor for attaching so much importance and concern to our visit and for the grand reception he gave us. Through talks with Prime Minister Fukuda, meetings with friends from all walks of life, and visits, we have deepened our mutual understanding and friendship." Vice Premier Deng said: "This visit enabled us to personally feel the deep friendship of the Japanese people towards the China people. We are also happy to see the great achievements made by the great Japanese people in economic construction and science and technology. We are convinced that on the basis of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides will surely achieve broader development." Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda welcomes Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping to visit Japan in Tokyo