Makoto Taniguchi, former Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations and special advisor of Northeast Asia Research Institue at J.F. Oberlin University and Dr. Yoda Yoshiie, Honorary Professor at Waseda University, visited SIIS and talked with President Yang Jiemian, Vice President Chen Dongxiao, Director Li Xiushi and Deputy Director Lian Degui of the Center for Japanese Studies, Director Ma Ying of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, Research Fellow Chen Youjun, Huang Xinyi and Zhou Shixin about Prime Minister Hatoyama’s idea of building an East-Asian community, the importance of resuming China’s standing as a cultural power in Asia, the usage and influence of Chinese characters in Asian countries and so on.