China and Japan can cooperate on a wide scope of issues, such as
the organization of the Beijing Olympic Games next year and aid to
Africa, said Ide Keiji, Minister of Public Relations, Press,
Culture, Education and Sports and Spokesperson of the Embassy of
Japan in China. He sat down with Beijing Review reporter
Ding Zhitao and intern Wang Hairong to discuss his views on
relations between the two countries just prior to Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan.
Premier Wen's visit is very important. We wish to promote such a
good atmosphere between the two countries. We expect it will
provide an impetus to move each issue forward, for example,
cooperation on the environment or cooperation in cultural
exchanges.
"Mutual understanding is not enough. We should encourage people,
especially young people, to know each other."
My understanding is that in China there are still some limits or
some bias among ordinary Chinese people in their perception of
Japan.
Beijing Review: Both China and Japan are confident
that Premier Wen's visit to Japan will be successful. The premier
once expressed his wish to make his April visit an "ice-melting"
one. What preparations has Japan made to pave the way for the
Chinese premier's visit? What do you expect his visit to
achieve?
Ide Keiji: As you know, last October our prime minister, Mr.
(Shinzo) Abe, visited Beijing. It was his first foreign visit after
he assumed the post of prime minister. I think this means that Mr.
Abe puts high priority on improving relations with China. So now,
the Japanese Government and Japanese people are very happy to have
Mr. Wen's visit to Japan. We have already extended an invitation to
Chinese President Hu Jintao, and we also expect his visit to Japan.
Also, we expect such mutual visits by leaders and high-ranking
individuals of the two countries to increase this year and next
year.
Next year the Beijing Olympic Games will be held. These Olympic
Games are not only Olympic Games for China, but also for the people
in Asia and in the world as a whole. The Japanese Government and
Japanese people wish to contribute to the successful organization
of the Games.
We have very good prospects for the future. This is the general
tendency. Premier Wen's visit is very important. We wish to promote
a good atmosphere between the two countries. We expect it will
provide an impetus to move each issue forward, for example,
cooperation on the environment or in cultural exchanges. We are
preparing concrete programs to move our relations forward. This is
our overall view.
Last October, Prime Minister Abe visited China. Thereafter,
leaders from both sides met on several occasions. This year more
frequent high-level visits will be conducted. How will these
high-level visits promote bilateral ties?
The Japanese Government's position on that point is basically
the same as in the past. We always work on exchanges on different
levels, including the summit level, the ministerial level and among
ordinary people, and in every field: politicians, business people
and cultural people. This is our policy. Summit meetings and
exchanges by leaders are of course very important. They give a good
signal to the peoples of the two countries. The leaders are very
active and very energetic in moving our relations forward. I think
this is also very important.
Recently, Premier Wen mentioned establishing "strategic
Chinese-Japanese relations of mutual benefit." Earlier, Prime
Minister Abe also proposed developing "strategic, mutually
beneficial" ties with China. How do you understand the two
terms?
I think my understanding is that both countries, both
governments and peoples have increasingly realized that for Japan,
China is a very important country. For China, Japan is very
important. We should have better relations. This is of interests to
both countries. I have been working in Beijing for three years. I
feel very strongly that last year and this year more and more
people understand that we should have better relations. We share
common challenges and tasks. We should tackle problems together if
there are problems. In the Japanese Government, and in the Japanese
Embassy in Beijing, we are fully aware that for Japan China is a
very important country, and we should work hard to have more
fruitful cooperation with China.
China and Japan have cooperated in many areas and both sides
agree that this cooperation should be deepened. What will be done
to carry this out?
We are neighbors. We have some common challenges and tasks, such
as environmental protection and energy. We have very frequent
exchanges, such as large-scale exchanges of people. Leaders'
meetings should provide a good impetus for further cooperation
between the two countries.
Japan has always tried to help developing countries. When China
began its reform and opening-up policy, we started assistance to
China. China is still a developing country, yet its role may be
slowly changing. Twenty years ago, when China started its reform
and opening-up policy, its economic status was still developing.
Although China is still a developing country, it has started to
help African and Asian countries on a massive scale. Japan is also
helping African countries. We hope that in the future, Japan and
China will cooperate. China's role is changing. Before, China was
only a recipient of assistance and now China is a very important
donor. Japan is also a donor. We can jointly help African
countries. In this context, China's development is helpful to
Japan. China's development gives us new possibilities to cooperate
together.
It is sometimes difficult to help others. Just giving money or
lending money is not good. We should help others so that the
recipient country or government can eventually help itself. For
that purpose, good governance is very necessary. We need some
coordination, or at least discussion on how to help African
countries so they will achieve good governance. It is cumbersome
work. It takes lots of energy to achieve this cooperation. To help
others jointly is no easy task. We need to have discussions. At
this moment, this is at a primitive stage. This is a future task
for us.
China and Japan are close neighbors across a narrow strip of
water. We often say that the friendship between the two countries
will be passed from generation to generation. What will be done to
promote the friendship?
I have been in Beijing for three years. I have met Chinese
people, young and old. They often say that their perception of
Japan dramatically changed after their visit to Japan. I am making
a snap judgment, but my understanding is that in China there are
still some limits or some bias among ordinary Chinese people in
their perception of Japan. We sincerely hope that Chinese people
will have more opportunities to know Japan. We started some
projects recently. We began some youth exchange programs last year.
In 2006, the Japanese Government invited about 1,000 Chinese high
school students to Japan. This year, we expanded the number to
2,000. We have had discussions with the Japan China Friendship
Association in China. They have also started a program to invite
Japanese students to China. We encourage the children to know each
other, so that they have direct feelings about the Japanese people
and Chinese people.
Mutual understanding is not enough. We should encourage people,
especially young people, to know each other.
??????
Admittedly, bilateral ties have suffered from some problems,
some old, some new.?What are the hurdles to the successful
settlement of these issues? What measures should the two sides take
to remove these obstacles?
People sometimes tend to see only problems. At this moment,
Japan-China relations are basically developing quite well. Our
relations are moving forward smoothly. Our relations are developing
in terms of trade and investment and the exchange of people. At
this moment, we do not have a trade conflict with China. For
example, China has some trade conflicts with the United States and
with European countries over shoes, clothing and textiles. They
impose antidumping duties and so forth. Japan's economic structure
has changed. We can smoothly cooperate with China. We do not impose
antidumping duties on Chinese shoes and textiles. You should notice
this aspect also. Of course, we are neighbors. Between neighbors
conflicts may arise, which is maybe natural. We should not
dramatize these issues. We should not make it too emotional. We
should contain, and we should balance. This is the duty for both
governments and diplomats.
?????????????
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of
diplomatic ties between China and Japan. What activities will be
held to commemorate the event??
We are going to celebrate the 35th anniversary of bilateral
ties. There are more than 200 events this year, some of which are
posted on the website of the embassy.
We have several ideas. Japan will send 20,000 people to China in
September and October. And we expect many Chinese people to visit
Japan. The Japanese people have traditional festivals at which they
dress in the traditional costume, the kimono. During the festival,
which is like a carnival, 200 Japanese people will come to China to
dance. Governments and private companies will organize these
activities. This is an exchange between local cities. We encourage
Japanese people to not only visit Beijing and Shanghai but also
other cities like Dalian and Guangzhou.
Besides the 35th anniversary, there are some other anniversaries
of historical events, such as the Nanjing Massacre and the Lugoqiao
Incident. Are these anniversaries opportunities or challenges for
bilateral ties?
We should face history squarely. We have a joint study of
history. This is a very important development. If there are some
areas that are not clear to historians of both countries, let the
historians sit together. They should discuss and sort out the
issue: On this part we have a common understanding, but on this
part we need more study. We encourage historians to do such a job.
Otherwise, sometimes such matters may be politicized. To politicize
historical issues is quite unfortunate sometimes. If in some areas
historians have different opinions, we should sit down and calmly
approach these issues. We have high expectations that these people
will produce positive results. These people are expected to prepare
a report next year. If necessary, such work will be continued. I
think this will help us to understand each other better.
As the spokesman of the Embassy of Japan in China, what are the
most difficult and pleasant parts in your effort to introduce your
country to China?
Some Chinese people have the misunderstanding that Japan is
still a militaristic country. For Japanese who grew up after the
war, it is impossible to have such a malicious intent. It is
difficult for ordinary Chinese people to understand that Japan has
changed after World War II. They still have a negative image of
Japan. From what I understand, the difficulty for us to understand
each other is that we have different political systems. It is easy
for the French and Germans to understand each other because they
have the same political system.
Bai Yansong (an anchorman with China Central Television (CCTV))
is working on a program about Japan. Two years ago, it was very
difficult for Chinese TV people to make such a program. At a news
conference, I was surprised to hear Mr. Bai saying, "The Chinese
people tend to believe that they know Japan well, but in fact, the
Chinese people do not know Japan. In comparison, Japanese scholars
have studied China carefully. It is high time for the Chinese
people to know Japan as it is." I was very happy to hear it, and I
think Mr. Bai is courageous. (With programs like this) my work this
year is much easier and happier than last
year.?????
(Beijing Review April 10,
2007)
