Contacts on an unprecedented scale between China and Japan this
year are conclusive evidence of the two neighbors' closeness on the
30th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic
relations.
Both sides have held activities, and an exchange of visits has been
made by people from various circles of the two countries.
A
delegation of 13,000 Japanese from all walks of life -- the largest
ever civilian contingent to visit China -- arrived in Beijing for a
grand celebration on September 22. The visit reflects the goodwill
of the Japanese people in cementing friendship with China.
A
large number of Chinese people were reciprocally invited to Japan
to join the celebrations in Tokyo.
Local governments from both sides have also been active. More than
250 Chinese cities have established friendship ties with their
Japanese counterparts.
Frequent people-to-people contacts, which preceded the two
governments' efforts to normalize diplomatic relations in 1972,
continue to act as glue in consolidating ties.
The relationship between China and Japan has become one of the most
important for both nations.
When celebrating the 30th anniversary, we should take this
opportunity to salute all those who have made efforts to pave the
way for better relations.
China and Japan normalized diplomatic relations in September 1972
after Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited China. This was followed
by a long-term trade agreement in February 1978 and a treaty of
peace and friendship in August that year.
The present relationship between Japan and China is based on two
documents: the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, which formed the
basis of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the
1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which committed the countries
"to develop relations of perpetual peace and friendship between the
two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression,
non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and
mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence."
When President Jiang Zemin paid an official visit to Japan in
November 1998, the two countries issued a China-Japan Joint
Declaration on Building a Partnership of Friendship and Cooperation
for Peace and Development and a 33-article Joint Press Announcement
on Strengthening Cooperation between China and Japan towards the
21st Century.
The two documents spelt out the action program for the two
countries to achieve their common objectives.
In
past decades, these landmark documents have laid the foundation for
the healthy development of bilateral relations. The two sides have
reached consensus that to strengthen and develop friendly and
cooperative relations between them not only serves the fundamental
interests of their peoples, but also contributes to peace and
development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. These
documents should continue to be the lighthouse for further
development of bilateral relations.
The economies of China and Japan -- the two largest in Asia -- have
become highly complementary. Japan has been China's largest trading
partner for the past eight consecutive years, and China is the
second largest of Japan. A better relationship between the two
nations will definitely have a strong impact on the prosperity and
stability of the region as a whole.
Despite the fact that the desire to develop good relations has been
the main trend of the times, mistrust also lingers from time to
time between the two countries and some problems remain
unsolved.
Now and then we hear harsh sounds and see irresponsible acts by a
few in Japan, whose denial of the criminal past of Japanese
militarists has irritated its neighbors.
History is not an issue that Japan can and should bypass. Only by
facing its history, especially the darkest chapters, squarely can
Japan win the hearts of once-victimized countries.
There are also some concerns in Japan over Japan's economic
recession and China's economic growth. The "China threat" assertion
is both unsubstantiated and irresponsible. The reality is that
Japan has benefited from its economic ties with China and momentum
will surely continue to benefit both countries.
It
is our belief that the people of China and Japan will cherish and
continuously push forward the friendship and cooperative
partnership they have so far established, although the road ahead
may be bumpy at times. A better relationship will require
far-sightedness and greater efforts of the leaders and peoples of
the two countries.
(China
Daily September 30, 2002)