Sino-Japan ties 'on the correct course'

Beijing has urged Tokyo to "implement positive policies toward China" and properly tackle "major sensitive issues" regarding history, military affairs and defense.

The appeal came as senior officials co-hosted the second China-Japan High-Level Political Dialogue in Tokyo on Tuesday.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Japan's National Security Adviser Shotaro Yachi co-chaired the in-depth talks that were attended by key foreign policy and security officials.

An official release issued after the dialogue said, "The two sides said they will fully utilize high-level political dialogue channels and continue to play positive roles in boosting the consistent improvement of the bilateral relationship."

Yang said Japan was "expected to honor its commitment, implement positive policy toward China, meet China halfway, tangibly implement the four-point consensus and properly tackle major sensitive issues".

In November, Yang and Yachi met in Beijing, and both countries issued a "four-point principled consensus" on improving relations.

Yachi said on Tuesday that Japan will uphold the consensus and "continue to take the path of peaceful development".

At Tuesday's discussions, Yang said Sino-Japanese relations are generally improving and Beijing is willing to maintain dialogue and contacts with Tokyo.

He said China is ready to work with Japan to steadily press ahead with bilateral economic and trade cooperation, explore new areas in which to increase cooperation, and further strengthen bilateral cultural exchanges.

Yachi said Japan is glad to see the relationship improving and bilateral exchanges being resumed gradually.

Japan is also ready to reinforce dialogue and coordination, expand exchanges, increase political mutual trust and people-to-people friendship, and maintain the momentum of the improving relationship, Yachi said.

Yang Bojiang, deputy director of the Institute of Japan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the joint relationship is still not ideal because "opportunities are intertwined with challenges", especially on historical and security issues.

He said that in Japan there is skepticism or negativity among some people toward China, and they question China's commitment to peaceful development.

Zhang Tuosheng, director of the Research Department at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said that over the past year both countries have strengthened crisis management, and the stand-off over the East China Sea has eased.

Contact the writers through caihong@chinadaily.com.cn