In April 1964, eight years prior to the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, China and Japan reached an agreement on assigning reporters to each country.

In September 1964, the first nine Japanese reporters arrived in Beijing, while at the same time, seven Chinese reporters went to Tokyo.

In January 1974, after the two countries set up diplomatic ties, an official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Japan's ambassador to China signed a memorandum on exchanging reporters, agreeing to increase the number to 11. The official system on reporter exchange between China and Japan was established.

In November 2003, the number of both sides' correspondents were expanded to 90.

In August 2004, Japanese correspondents were allowed to set up branch offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing. Although Chinese correspondents remain only in Tokyo, China retains the right to establish branch offices in three other places.

Currently nearly 80 Japanese reporters from 23 media outlets are in China, and 28 Chinese reporters from 17 media outlets are in Japan.

Source: Xinhua