Guo Liqun, general-manager of the China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), held a meeting with a delegation of Japan's Matsuyama Ballet Troupe in Beijing on May 16.

The delegation was led by Japanese ballerina Yoko Morishita and her husband Tetsutaro Shimizu, chief representative of Matsuyama Ballet Troupe. They engaged in talks over the promotion of China-Japan cultural exchanges and traditional friendship.

Guo extended a warm welcome to the delegation of Matsuyama Ballet Troupe, hailed it as the Chinese people's old friend, and reviewed its extraordinary contributions to the cultural exchanges between the two nations over the past decades. He added that both Morishita and Shimizu are internationally renowned ballet artists and that they have witnessed and promoted China-Japan friendship.

At the invitation of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, Matsuyama Ballet Troupe made its fresh tour to China. Accompanied by the CAEG's subsidiary the China Performing Arts Agency (CPAA), the troupe visited Shanghai, Jinggangshan and Beijing and held in-depth exchanges with faculty members of Shanghai Dance School affiliated with Shanghai Theatre Academy and Beijing Dance Academy.

Matsuyama Ballet Troupe and its members paid a special visit to former revolutionary sites in Jiangxi's Jinggangshan, the cradle of the Chinese revolution. Shimizu said that the tour has helped him grasp a deep understanding of the hardship and perseverance behind the Chinese revolution and that Jinggangshan Spirit has transcended beyond national borders and should be cherished by all people.

Shimizu noted that there is a long history of China-Japan cultural ties and that the Japanese aggression inflicted tremendous hardship and pains to the Chinese people in history. In the spirit of reflection and peace, founders and senior members of Matsuyama Ballet Troupe adapted the Chinese film "the White-Haired Girl" into a ballet in 1955 to show their full respect and sincere apology to the Chinese people.

Guo stressed that there are sufficient justifications for the Chinese and Japanese people to further strengthen bilateral friendship. Noting that this year marks 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, he called on the two nations to remember history, cherish peace and strive for a shared future.

The CAEG and CPAA have been committed to promoting the cultural exchanges between China and Japan and the two companies have sponsored Matsuyama Ballet Troupe's tours to China for many times.

Guo said that the CAEG and CPAA will continue to serve as a bridge for China-Japan artistic cooperation, introducing more outstanding artistic works to people of the two nations.

Those in attendance of the meeting included representatives of the CAEG's General Management Department and the CPAA.