TOKYO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Japan held a celebration on Friday to congratulate Japanese experts on receiving the Chinese Government Friendship Award.

The award is the highest honor issued by the Chinese government to foreign experts working in China in recognition of their contribution to the country's development.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou extended congratulations to the experts on receiving the award and thanked them for their contributions to China-Japan friendship as well as China's economic and social development.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and Japan has entered the new era of Reiwa, Kong said the two countries are now standing at a new historical starting point with both opportunities and challenges.

The Chinese ambassador called for strengthening high-level guidance, enhancing political mutual trust, promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges, working for greater affinity between the two peoples and consolidating favorable public opinion.

Kong expressed the hope that the experts will continue to play the role as a bridge and bond to push China-Japan peace, friendship and innovative cooperation to a new height.

Hideki Minamikawa, a famous Japanese ecological and environmental protection expert, is among the winners who has made contributions to the cooperation in ecological and environmental protection between China and Japan.

The expert recalled his experience in China's environmental protection projects and appreciated China's achievements in environmental protection. He hoped that the cooperation between China and Japan in the field of environmental protection will continue to expand and lead the world.

This year, China presented the Chinese Government Friendship Award to 100 foreign experts from 31 countries, among whom 13 are from Japan.