“虽然是第一次来,却似曾相识。”——这是我1993年深秋第一次访问苏州时的印象。这里有因唐诗而结识的寒山寺,有世界文化遗产拙政园,以及丝绸等众多让日本人感到怀旧的东西……我相信,我一定也继承了中华5000年文明的基因。从那以后直到今天的25年,我完全被中国,尤其是苏州所俘虏,一大半的时间都在这里度过。

　　江苏伟人辈出,其中出身于淮安的周恩来总理是我们日本人无法忘怀的大恩人。

　　2017年11月苏州NDK管理者在南京进行研修会时藤原信光董事长总经理给大家作了“中日邦交正常化45周年纪念”的主题演讲

　　1972年9月25日,日本时任首相田中角荣初次访问中国,和周恩来总理在人民大会堂经过几轮首脑会谈,在29日签署《中日两国政府联合声明》,实现恢复邦交。

　　“求大同,存小异”是周总理和田中角荣会谈时说的。“只要中日友好的想法相同,对于各种不同的意见我们可以暂时搁置一下。”掷地有声的这句话,是中日恢复邦交交涉的基本姿态,也最终促成了4日后的《中日两国政府联合声明》。没有这历史性的4天,就没有现在的中日交流,我今天也不可能在这里。

　　我们公司和周总理也有很深的渊源。

　　追溯到恢复邦交后的10月24日,日本电波工业株式会社创业社长竹内正道先生,作为日本技术交流团代表访问中国,周总理与之亲切会面并留影。这张珍贵的照片目前珍藏于弊司总部。

　　自那以后,等待机会,创造机会,1994年1月,创业社长的长子竹内敏晃会长决定,在苏州高新区设立该地区第一家外商独资企业——苏州日本电波工业有限公司。

　　1994年的时候,中国正处于计划经济体制向市场经济体制快速转型的关键发展期,投资考察时多地向我们抛来橄榄枝,而起桥梁作用的关键人员的极力推荐,苏州高新区管理委员会的热情接待,以及相关人员配合我们从公司设立、工场建设到生产准备的积极姿态是我们选择苏州的最大因素。另外,我们公司所生产的产品与苏州精细温和的地缘文化也非常契合,最终确定在此投资设厂。

　　其实,这里也浸透着周总理的“大同小异”的理念。

　　当我们因生活习惯、商业习惯不同感到困惑的时候,管委会一位领导这样说道:“我们双方希望投资成功的想法是相同的。虽然由于国家的差异存在着一些不同,那又有什么关系!外部的事情全部交给我们,你只需要集中精力负责内部事务。”即使今天再次想起这些我还是忍不住会流泪。说这话的是一位充满人情味,怀着坚定信念,不拘泥于形式但注重实务的领导。

　　现在想起来,每当我们碰到困难时,管委会的各位始终在我们身边。1997年亚洲金融危机、2008年世界金融危机、特别是2011年东日本大地震弊司关联公司受灾时,管委会为该公司出差到我们公司的日籍人员办理了紧急归国手续,还为受灾企业举办座谈会和慰问晚宴,他们说;“能做的事情我们都会去做,不要有任何顾虑。”苏州市政府贴近投资企业的姿态从来没有改变。当把这些向竹内社长汇报后,他回复说:“雪中送炭”。

　　成立以后公司在首任总经理以及各位前辈的努力下,通过6次增资取得了巨大成功,并在文化公益、教育公益方面为苏州贡献了绵薄之力。

　　2017苏州NDK工会拓展活动

　　被评为“苏州市荣誉市民”的竹内会长,曾两次在苏州市长咨询会时发表演讲,并捐赠88株樱花树给苏州市。教育方面,我本人自2010年与苏州大学开展交流以来,捐赠了奖学金、图书,并数次发表了关于中日和平友好的演讲。各位教职人员没有丝毫傲慢,亲切地接待学识浅薄的我,如今还和我以及家人保持着联系。他们都是勤勉的学者,然而又都非常温文儒雅。

　　教育是上天平等地赋予每一个人的权利,不分国家,无论男女、贫富,在接受教育的权利上应该人人平等。从名校苏州大学走出来的莘莘学子,将是江苏省、中国乃至全世界的栋梁之才。基于这样的想法,我和他们保持着持续的交流。

　　在从事公益的过程中,我得到了公司副总经理徐菁女士、各位苏州大学毕业生、以及很多有担当的苏州人、新苏州人的支持,我对他们的感激之情无以言表。

　　2017年是中日邦交正常化45周年,2018年是中日和平友好条约签约40周年,在中国各地举行了很多纪念活动。2017年4月,作为纪念活动的一环,日本NHK电视台采访了与创价大学与“周樱”有缘的相关人员,并以《周恩来·隐藏在樱花中的秘密》为题在日本播放。

　　“周樱”,是为了实现中日友好的誓言,为了纪念1974年创价大学创立者池田大作先生与周总理的会面,于次年11月,由第一批创价大学中国留学生和创价大学日本学生一起亲手种植的樱花树。

　　在该大学进行过演讲的周总理的侄女周秉宜说道:“只要中国和日本人民团结起来,就能保护亚洲和世界和平。虽然每个人的力量微薄,但我们每个人可以从各自的维度来继承中日友好。”

　　饮水思源,有一句话叫做“喝水不忘挖井人”。池田先生也说过这样一句话:“只有从父母到子女跨越世代缔结友情,才能让中日友好源远流长。”苏州是日本企业投资最为集中的地方,在这里工作,我们应该牢记周总理的话,时刻感念苏州市政府为首的各界人士,并将此感恩之心世代传承!

　　我本人只是籍籍无名的一介民间人士,然而,将周总理的“大同小异”精神放到自己身上来看,无论是中国人还是日本人,不论男女、年龄的差异以及意识形态或立场的不同,我将在承认这些不同的基础上,立志为社会、地区发展而努力。这就是对我来说的“大同小异”。接下来我将立足于苏州,架设起中日友好交流的金色桥梁,让中日友好继续发扬光大!

　　作者：苏州日本电波工业有限公司董事长·总经理 藤原信光(日本)

　　译稿

To Carry Forward China-Japan Friendship with the Idea of “Seeking Common Ground amidst Small Differences”

FujiwaraNobumitsu(Japan)

I visited Suzhou in thelate autumn of 1993. That was my first time there, but everything looked familiar as if I had already been there long ago. Suzhou is famous for the Hanshan Temple that I knew about in the poetry of the Tang Dynasty, the Humble Administrator's Garden – a UNESCO world heritage site, silk and many more that attract the Japanese people. Over the past 25 years since then, I have spent most of my time in China and gotten completely captured by this country, especially Suzhou.

Jiangsu is a cradle of great men in China. Premier Zhou Enlai, who was born in Huai’an Jiangsu Province, meant a lot to the Japanese people.

On 25 September 1972, the then Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei first visited China. He and Premier Zhou had several rounds of summits in the Great Hall of the People, and signed the "Joint Statement of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Japan" on the 29thto restore diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Premier Zhou talked about "seeking common ground while reserving small differences" during the summit. "As long as we reach common consensus on China-Japan friendship, we can shelve different opinions for now." His stirring words became the keynote of the China-Japan diplomatic relation negotiation and facilitated the joint statement four days later. Without the historic four days, we would not have had thriving exchanges between two cultures, nor would I have had a chance to be here.

Our company also has strong ties to Premier Zhou.

On October 24 after the restoration of our diplomatic relations, Mr. Takeuchi Masamichi, founder and president of Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd. (NDK), visited China as a representative of the Japanese technological exchange delegation. He received a warm meet-up with Premier Zhou and took pictures with him. This photo is now treasured up at headquarters of the company.

Since then, we have been trying every effort to not only get ourselves prepared but also create opportunities. In January 1994, President Takeuchi Toshiaki, eldest son of Mr. Takeuchi Masamichi, decided to establish a production subsidiary Suzhou NDK Co., Ltd. in Suzhou New District, which was also the first wholly foreign owned enterprise in this district.

At the time of 1994, China was in the crucial period of rapid transition from a planned economy to a market economy. When considering where to invest, we received invitations for partnership from many cities, among which Suzhou was highly recommended by the contact person who played a vital role in cooperation. What’s more, we then received warm reception from the Management Committee of Suzhou New District and their great help in setting up the company, building the workshop, and preparing for production. In addition, the products manufactured by our company fit very well with the fine and moderate geo-culture of Suzhou. Finally, we decided to invest and establish the company here.

As a matter of fact, the entire investment process also proved Premier Zhou’s idea of seeking common ground while reserving small differences.

When we were baffled by the different ways we live and do business in two cultures, an official with the Management Committee said: "We are open to different voices because we do differ in history, culture and national conditions. What matters more is that we share the same goal to reach a success in investment! We will get all external affairs settled so you can concentrate on your business. Trust us!" Even today, when I think of this, I cannot stop tears and feel lucky to have met such a thoughtful, practice-oriented official who has a firm belief and always thinks out of the box.

They did what they said. Whenever we were in difficulty, all the Management Committee members were there for us and helped us out of all kinds of problems, such as the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the world financial crisis in 2008. Particularly in the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, our affiliated company was heavily affected. Thanks to the Management Committee who immediately handled all the necessary visa procedures, the affiliated company’s Japanese employees on a business trip to our company were able to return to Japan as soon as possible. The Management Committee also held conversations and dinners specially for staff of affected enterprises. "We will spare no effort to support you. Don’t worry about that!" they said. After learning about what the Suzhou Government had done for us, President Takeuchi expressed his appreciation for their timely and great help in his reply.

After the company was set up,with the joint efforts ofthe first general manager and all other seniors, we achieved a great success through six rounds of capital increases. In the meanwhile, we have made our contributions to the public cultural and educational undertakings in Suzhou.

President Takeuchi, who was named the Honorary Citizen of Suzhou, addressed the Consulting Session with Mayor of Suzhou twice and donated 88 cherry trees to Suzhou. As for myself, since I started exchanges with Soochow University in 2010, I have sponsored scholarships, donated books, and delivered speeches on the peace and friendship between China and Japan a couple of times. The faculty of the university treated me with dignity and kindness, without the least arrogance. Now they still keep in touch with my family and me. They are diligent scholars, very elegant and cultured.

Education is the right given to everyone. It shall be accessible to all, men and women, rich and poor, regardless of where he or she is from. Students that graduate from the prestigious Soochow University will surly play a significant role in developing Jiangsu, China, and the world at large. In this sense, I have all along maintained exchanges with this university.

When engaged in public welfare programs, I have received extensive support from Mrs. Xu Jing, vice general manager of our company, graduates from Soochow University, many responsible Suzhou natives, and migrant Suzhou residents. I could hardly find words to express how grateful I am for them.

The year 2017 marked the 45thanniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations, and 2018 is the 40thanniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Many events were held around China in memory of the two major milestones. As part of the events, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK interviewed people associated with Soka University and the "cherry blossoms in honor of Premier Zhou" in April 2017, and then broadcast the interview in Japan in the title "Zhou Enlai and Japan: Friendship Conveyed by Cherry Blossoms."

The "cherry blossoms in honor of Premier Zhou" symbolize the commitment of both sides to making China-Japan friendship happen. The first Chinese students in Soka University and the local students at the university planted these cherry trees in November 1975,to commemoratethe historic meet-up between Premier Zhou and Mr. Daisaku Ikeda, founder of Soka University, in 1974.

"As long as the people of the two nations can come together, nothing will stop us from creating a peaceful Asia and beyond. Even if each one of us can only do a little by oneself, there is always something we can do in our own way for the China-Japan friendship," said Mrs. Zhou Bingyi, niece of Premier Zhou, who used to address the university.

As the saying goes, "When drinking water, never forget where it comes from and who has made it available." Similarly, Mr. Daisakuonce said, "Only by offering friendships from generation to generation can the one between the two peoples last forever." Suzhou is the most popular destination of Japanese investors. Working here, we should keep in mind the inspiring words of Premier Zhou and the great support from people from all walks of life led by the Suzhou municipal government. We will pass your kindness and our gratitude from generation to generation!

Although I am just an ordinary resident in Suzhou, this is how I personally came to understand Premier Zhou’s idea of "seeking common ground amidst small differences." By acknowledging that people differ in cultures, genders, ages, thoughts, and positions, I am willing to devote myself to the social and regional development. In the days to come, I will spare no effort in Suzhou to act as the bridge of facilitating China-Japan exchanges and carry forward the friendship between the two nations!