A year of cultural and social exchange activities between Japan and China starts, with the official opening of "Japan-China Year, 2007" on Wednesday in Tokyo.

Japan-China Year, with a theme on "HE", or peace and harmony, is aimed at promoting exchanges between peoples -- Japanese and Chinese, and people from difference countries, Huang Yaoting, chairman of Japan-China Year organization committee and chief of Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Japan said at the opening ceremony.

A commemorative concert on Thursday will be the first event in Japan-China Year, followed by sakura-appreciation tours, exhibitions, performances and art shows in the first half of 2007, Huang said. In September 2007, the Ninth World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention and a beauty contest among domestic and overseas Chinese will be held as part of the events.

In the following month, a team of scholars, students and journalists both from China and Japan will follow the route of the diplomatic officials from ancient China and complete a journey from Xi'an, Northwestern China to Nara, Japan's Kinki Region. Meanwhile, a series of activities will be held in Beijing to conclude the Japan-China Year, organizers said.

Japan- China Year is organized by the private body "World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention and China Year organization committee" and supported by Japan's foreign ministry, ministry of economy, trade and industry as well as ministry of land, infrastructure and transport.

Source: Xinhua