By Li Xiaokun (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-29 07:13

China and Japan should adopt a "creative" mode of thinking to push its strategic relations of mutual benefit to a higher level, visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said in a speech at Peking University on Friday.

"In my opinion, the problem of future Sino-Japanese relations is not about whether to choose cooperation or antagonism, but how to find an effective and responsible manner to develop peace," Fukuda said.

"In this regard, the building of strategic relations of mutual benefit is exactly the requirement of the trend of times on us."

Further explaining strategic relations of mutual benefit, Fukuda said it had three pillars: cooperation of mutual benefit, international contribution as well as mutual understanding and trust.

On future cooperation, Fukuda said Japan wants to "shift the keystone of bilateral cooperation from supporting China's reform and opening up to realizing a harmonious society" based on bilateral consultation, in which Japan is willing to contribute its experience and lessons to China, especially in the environmental and energy conservation fields.

He also invited China to join hands with Japan in regional and global affairs, including the continuous development of Africa, the Korean peninsula issue, the normalization of Japan-North Korea relations and fighting climate change.

On mutual understanding, Fukuda admitted the two countries had held "complex mentalities" in their dealings, leading to misunderstandings.

"Japan has to self-examine its mistakes and consider the sentiments of victims," Fukuda said.

"Only through looking back seriously and making self-examination bravely and wisely can we avoid committing similar mistakes in the future."

He also said that emotional attitudes toward bilateral relations are "dangerous".

A memorandum signed by the two sides announced that by 2008, there will be 4000 Chinese and Japanese youth involved in four-year exchange programs.

"I want to take the momentum of bilateral communication to make the year 2008 the first year of leaps in Sino-Japanese relations," Fukuda said, calling this visit "a tour to meet the spring".

Jin Xide, a senior scholar of Japan studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Fukuda had raised several new concepts in his speech.

"The creative partnership is not to replace the strategic relations of mutual benefit, but a new thinking mode to develop it, as Fukuda realized a new stage of bilateral relations had come," Jin said.

Jin said Fukuda's comments on the history issue fit well with Premier Wen Jiabao's suggestion of "taking the history as a mirror and facing toward the future".

Wan Lipeng, a third-year law student at Peking University said he found Fukuda very polite and amiable.

"From the speech, I can sense his familiarity with Chinese culture and his efforts to narrow the gap between the Japanese and the Chinese people."

(China Daily 12/29/2007 page2)