On January 11, 2012, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Vice President Ikeda Hiromasa of Japan's major lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai.

Ikeda Hiromasa first conveyed the greetings from Ikeda Daisaku, honorary president of Soka Gakkai, to Vice Premier Li Keqiang. Li appreciated Ikeda Daisaku's positive contribution to China-Japan friendship cause over the years. He said the development of China-Japan relations is conducive to the people of the two countries and will also promote peace, stability and development of Asia and the world at large. The vice premier called on both sides to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of normalization of ties this year to enhance dialogues, exchanges and cooperation in various areas, and to boost the healthy and stable development of bilateral strategic reciprocal ties.

"The foundation of China-Japan friendship lies in non-governmental sectors," Li said. Regarding people-to-people exchanges as a unique feature of China-Japan relations, Li urged non-governmental sectors of both countries to carry on the tradition of China-Japan friendship, display unique advantages and carry out more programs for youth exchange and cooperation, in a bid to cement understanding and friendship between the two peoples and beef up bilateral ties.

In response, Ikeda Hiromasa said he is committed to boosting Japan-China people-to-people exchanges that will contribute to bilateral friendship.

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and President of the Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries Li Xiaolin attended the meeting.