Experts from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will join hands in compiling a supplementary textbook to help young people increase their understanding of history.

The plan was announced Saturday in the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province during a Forum on Understanding History and Effect on Peace in East Asia.

Experts who attended the forum said that summarizing historical experience is a step towards securing long-term peace in East Asia.

However the experience must be passed on to the new generation through unbiased historical education.

Targeting issues like distortions in Japanese history textbooks, political and social tendencies in Japan and peace in East Asia, some 118 historians and representatives from China, Japan and the ROK had in-depth discussions between March 28 and 30.

They all believe a history textbook must be a truthful record of the past. The Japanese government's approval last year of a history textbook which distorted the facts in order to avoid the truth about the Japanese invasion of and its atrocities in Asian countries before and during World War II was not acceptable.

It seems the fight against Japanese right-wing groups will be along one.

( April 1, 2002)