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China and Japan have agreed not to use the historical issue as a bargaining chip in their relations.

Ten Chinese historians have teamed up with their Japanese counterparts for a joint study of shared history, heralding a positive change in direction.

Their joint approach to history will begin on December 26-27 when these experts in history, international politics and diplomacy will establish principles for their discussions and define the specific issues to be studied.

History has become a thorn in the side of bilateral relations for decades, moving its diplomatic dimension into a stalemate for a while.

It is encouraging that the two countries are initiating the first step to free their relations from the sway of the historical issue.

It is unrealistic to expect that the first meeting of the two countries' experts will remove all their differences.

An appeal to his compatriots for patience launched by the chairman of the Chinese contingent, Bu Ping, reflects the gravity of the issue.

The people of the two countries abandon themselves to sentiment when historical controversy occurs.

Hopefully, the academic discussions between the Chinese and Japanese experts will be immune to these feelings. The experts should be allowed to put their academic deliberations on the historical issue in a different perspective.

Interpretations of many parts of the bilateral history vary in China and Japan. It may be too idealistic to expect the same readings of the issue from the two countries.

The point, however, is that they should not let history become a bargaining chip.

The joint effort aims to promote a more objective understanding of history through frank discussions.

When President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed in October to begin joint research on the countries' shared history by the end of the year, they sent a clear and positive signal that their countries will begin to solve the problems left over from the past. The Chinese and Japanese foreign ministers agreed to set a target of 2008 for the publication of the joint study.

The meeting next week is part of a recent rapprochement between China and Japan following a summit in October, and aims to reverse a steep decline in the relationship amid the dispute over former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paying homage to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.

The two countries will also hold a year of cultural and sports exchanges in 2007 to mark the 35th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations. The program is designed to promote people-to-people and youth exchanges to build more understanding and improve perceptions of the two countries.

Objective historical facts establish a solid foundation for understanding and perception.

Given the wide difference between the two countries' readings of the history, the Chinese and Japanese experts have a tough job to do.

But the issue deserves this joint effort.

(China Daily December 21, 2006)