Tao Wenzhao, another academician from the CASS, published an article that said the Sino-Japanese relationship is at a new jumping-off point in history. Tao said the joint statement produced three important points-showing mutual support for peaceful development, providing a blueprint for trade and economic cooperation, and improving cooperation on regional and international affairs, such as the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Tao also pointed to the mutual trust emerging between the two nations in the joint statement, "The two countries reaffirm that they are cooperation partners, with neither side posing a threat to the other." This would serve as a footstone for developing long-term and stable bilateral relations, as the two countries can be fair competitors and friendly partners at the same time, he said.

From 1993 to 2003, Japan had been the biggest trade partner of China. In 2007, with a new record of bilateral trade volume of $236 billion, China became Japan's biggest trade partner. Now, Japan is the top exporter and the fourth biggest importer of China. With complementary economic structures, their cooperation would form a strong basis for bilateral relationship, said Tao.

Both CASS analysts agreed that although disputes and dissension exist between China and Japan, they could overcome these problems through dialogue and mutual trust. The slow progress in resolving specific disputes, including the issue of gas fields in the East China Sea, was touched on in the joint statement. The two nations pledged in the statement to "work together and make the East China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship."

As far as cooperation on world events is concerned, Tao and Feng said the joint statement showed China's acceptance of Japan on the global stage by the wording, "China values Japan's status and role in the United Nations and is willing to see Japan play a bigger and more constructive role in international affairs."

However, Feng said the two countries should take additional measures to maintain the warmness of the current bilateral relationship. "The key is to form strong bonds between them. The first is the bond of national strategies and the second is the bond of friendly relations between the two peoples," he said. He specified that cooperation on environmental protection and energy saving would become a new strategic mutual bond. Friendly relations between the two peoples should be cultivated through strengthening communication. Communication between the media was one example he gave that could contribute greatly toward better understanding. "Reporting about the coming Beijing Olympics will be a good opportunity," Feng said.

Milestones in China-Japan Relations

September 1972: Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited China. The two governments signed the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, starting to renew the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

August 1978: China and Japan issued the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan. October 23, the two nations exchanged documents of ratification of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship during then Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping's visit to Japan.

November 1998: Then Chinese President Jiang Zemin launched a state visit to Japan, which was the first by a Chinese head of state to Japan. The two sides issued the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, marking the establishment of a partnership of friendship and cooperation for peace and development.

October 2006: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began an "ice-breaking" visit to China. During his stay in China, the two countries agreed to foster mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests, so as to reach the goal of "peaceful coexistence, friendship for generations, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development."

April 2007: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Japan. The tour was known as the "ice-thawing" trip, which represented the warming of bilateral ties.

December 2007: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited China. His "spring-herald" visit further clarified the basic principles and essence of their mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)

Four-point Proposal

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao made a speech at the welcome luncheon hosted by key Japanese business groups on May 7 in Tokyo and put forward a four-point proposal for further development of China-Japan trade and economic cooperation.

--The two countries should give priority to cooperation in energy saving and environmental protection. China is committed to building a resource-conserving and environment-friendly society while Japan boasts sophisticated technology in these fields. The two countries show promising prospects for cooperation in these areas.

--The two countries should actively participate in China's regional development. China will continue to implement its overall strategy in regional development. The Japanese business community is encouraged to use their cutting-edge technology and give priority to their personnel and technological cooperation and exchange with China.

--The two countries should vigorously promote cooperation between enterprises. Large enterprises should seize the critical opportunities to expand hi-tech exchanges and cooperation and continuously push their cooperation to new high levels. Small and medium-sized enterprises of the two countries should pay attention to improving communication and contacts, so as to realize their mutually beneficial cooperation in a flexible and diverse manner.

--The two countries should strengthen cooperation in regional and global economic affairs. Chinese enterprises stick to the "go global" strategy of realizing in-depth development of economic globalization so as to cope with development of globalization. Many Japanese enterprises are playing an active role throughout the world. The two sides could proceed from developing international markets and seek mutually beneficial cooperation in international and regional economic affairs.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)