Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese ambassador to Japan, has been appointed executive vice president of the China-Japan Friendship Association, a historic organization established in 1963 at then Premier Zhou Enlai's initiative.

Cheng, 66, first went to Japan in 1973 as one of the first batch of Chinese students going overseas for higher education. Since then, he lived and worked in Japan for over 30 years.

Joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977, Cheng served in various posts at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, including secretary, director and counselor. In 2010, he was appointed Chinese ambassador to Japan. Cheng's tenure is the longest among Chinese ambassadors to Japan since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972.

Before he left Japan in 2019, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a reception for him in Tokyo, appreciating his work in improving bilateral relations and thanking him for his role when the two countries faced difficult situations.