Deng Wei, Chinese consul general in Nagoya, opened the ceremony with Ichiro Hirosawa, vice mayor of Nagoya city, and other officials from both countries. Deng expressed the hope that the celebrations for Chinese Lunar New Year in Nagoya would be used as a platform to promote mutual understanding and friendship between people in China and Japan.

Hirosawa also delivered remarks at the ceremony, saying that as 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, the two countries should fully capitalize on this opportunity to further enhance communications and make new contributions to improve bilateral relations.