Nearly 200 delegates from the largest Sino-Japanese friendship
organizations in China and Japan gathered on Wednesday in Chengdu,
the capital city of Sichuan Province to discuss how to further
cultivate their friendship since the "ice-breaking" of bilateral
ties.
"It is important to promote people-to-people exchanges at the
time when high-level visits have been made and China-Japan ties is
entering into a healthy, stable channel for growth," said Song
Jian, chairman of the China-Japan Friendship Association
(CJFA).
The Chinese government has always favored developing friendly
relations with Japan, said Song, adding that cooperation in all
fields should be based on the three key political documents between
China and Japan, including the China-Japan Joint Communique.
Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan in April was dubbed an
"ice-thawing journey." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's China
trip last October was called an "ice-breaking visit."
The two countries issued a joint press communique, not only
aiming to promote political, economic, security, social and
cultural cooperation, but also calling for a "strategic and
mutually beneficial relationship" which pushes ties to a higher
level.
"China-Japan ties now face a crucial juncture," said Jing
Dunquan, vice chairman of the CJFA, urging the expansion of
economic cooperation and enhancement of cultural and regional
exchanges, to help stabilize the foundation of bilateral ties.
Jing said expanding exchanges between the youth of China and
Japan will create a favorable atmosphere and long-lasting
China-Japan friendship.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of
Sino-Japanese relations.
Current Japan-China relations are improving, but Japan should
never forget history and should be ready to fight "anti-Japan-China
friendship forces", said Shoichi Ide, deputy chairman of the
Japan-China Friendship Association, in a keynote speech.
Both Japan and China should view bilateral ties from a strategic
perspective to seek common development and prosperity, Ide
said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2007)
