Despite the suggestions, it would take time for the Japanese government to come up with a detailed reconstruction plan. Japan's diplomacy blue book, however, indicates that Tokyo will continue its mixed approach toward Sino-Japanese relations. It has expressed willingness to forge a good relationship with China, but it has also voiced "concerns" over China's military build-up and increased maritime activities.

This means political and military mistrust is persistent.

During the meeting, Masahiro Akiyama, Japan's former vice-minister of defense, said that Japan was more thankful for the prompt and "friendly" assistance from the United States. China's aid and rescue efforts after the March 11 devastation have not reduced Japan's worries about its increase in military spending.

Akiyama, now a professor at Rikkyo University and chairman of Ocean Policy Research Foundation, said that compared with Japan's defense white book, China's defense white paper, spread over six pages in China Daily, does not provide enough information about its military.

Rear Admiral Yang Yi, who is also an expert with the Institute of Strategic Studies of the National Defense University, said history shows that countries on the rise have played power politics to get what they wanted. "The Chinese leadership and people have learned the lessons." That's why "China has steered clear of 'power politics' and maintained its policies for peace and development during its rise as the world's second largest economy."

"We believe that we cannot use military power to resolve the disputes between China and Japan. Resolving the thorny issues requires wisdom and courage," Yang said. "Meanwhile, the two countries' armies, navies and air forces should try to establish communication mechanisms to prevent misunderstanding."

Liu Jiangyong, a professor at the Institute of International Studies of Tsinghua University, said China and Japan must try to improve their mutual political trust through cooperation and public diplomacy. "Chinese people share the pain of the Japanese in the aftermath of the triple disaster."

One of the important points in Japan's blue book is to "improve public feelings" between China and Japan.

Yuji Miyamoto, Japan's former ambassador to China, said Japanese society still doesn't understand China fully, largely because the media keep publishing and broadcasting "half-cooked" materials.

"Chinese people are more than willing to promote China-Japan relations, enhance exchanges and improve people's mutual feelings," Zhao Qizheng said. "Public feelings" in China and Japan fluctuate not only because of historical reasons, but also because of mutual misconception, according to Takahara Akio, a professor at Tokyo University. Akio said people in the two countries must learn why and how they have developed different cultures and values, and even definitions for freedom and equality to better understand each other.

Yasushi Akashi, chairman, board of trustees of International House of Japan, said frequent people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, is the best way to enhance mutual understanding.

Above all, the two countries should keep public diplomacy platforms open for exchange of ideas and help expand areas of cooperation between the two countries, Zhao said.

Qin Jize and Wang Chenyan contributed to the article.