The People's Daily issues a feature story Friday, Sept 24, introducing that new Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi paid a special visit to the old friend of the Chinese people Masao Shimizu, honorary head of the Japanese Matsuyama Ballet Troupe.

The story says Mr. Shimizu is at his advanced age. Regardless of poor health, with a walking stick in hand he and his wife Matsuyama Mikiko, the present general representative Shimizu Tetsutaro and his wife Morishita Yoko, famous ballet actress, and all the members of the troupe greeted the Chinese guests with five-star red flags in hands.

First of all Mr. Shimizu invited Wang to visit the old site of the rehearsal hall. Morishita Yoko introduced, "Prior to the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, we received the Shanghai Ballet Troupe headed by Sun Pinghua in this hall. It not only showed the Chinese modern art to the Japanese people, but also accelerated the pace of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A welcoming ceremony was held in another rehearsal hall hanging with the national flags of the two countries. Mr. Shimizu said in his impromptu speech that the old generation of Chinese leaders, including Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, and the Chinese people have concerned with and supported the Matsuyama Ballet Troupe, which he can never forget.

He tenderly recollected the year of 1955 when Japanese-Chinese relations were in low tide. In accordance with the film entitled "The White-haired Girl'' presented by Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, the troupe successfully created and performed the ballet "The White-haired Girl''. Prime Minister Zhou also invited Matsuyana Mikiko in the character of the white-haired girl to attend the National Day reception of the same year. In 1958, the troupe was invited by Prime Minister Zhou to China for performing "The White-haired Girl''. The troupe was received by the old generation of leaders involving Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai many times. What enable him not to be forgotten is: some years before when he was sick, Tang Jiaxuan, state councilor of China paid a visit to him in person and sent medicine for him and his life was saved. Mr. Shimizu said in emotion that when there is no China there would be no him of today and no today's Matsuyama Ballet Troupe. No matter what changes may happen in the relations between Japan and China, he and all the members of his Matsuyama Ballet Troupe will struggle for the Japanese-Chinese friendship and cultural exchanges as they always did.

Wang highly praised that the Matsuyama Ballet Troupe has made active contributions to the Sino-Japanese friendship under the leadership of Mr. Shimizu and Matsuyama. He said, "Mr. Shimizu and Matsuyama Ballet Troupe are the true friends of the Chinese people, the symbol for the folk relations between China and Japan and the example for the cultural exchanges between the two countries. We firmly believe that the Japanese people, just like the Chinese people, are looking forward to the Sino-Japanese friendship, which is an historical trend and also the only correct choice for the two countries of China and Japan.

The Matsuyama Ballet Troupe is one of the most well-known ballet troupes in Japan. It has won international prizes for many times. Established in 1948, troupe has visited China for performances for 12 times since its first visit to China in 1958. As an envoy of Sino-Japanese friendship, Mr Shimizu has visited China for more than 100 times in less than half a century. He has experienced the development course of Sino-Japanese relations and the efforts paid by the leaders of new China in improving the Sino-Japanese relations and the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

By People's Daily Online