In a five-point proposal on the development of Sino-Japanese relations, Chinese President Hu Jintao said the two countries should further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields so as to increase mutual understanding, promote mutual interests and keep bilateral relations on a healthy track.

After China and Japan normalized relations in 1972, the two countries made strides in cooperation in politics, economics and trade, science and technology, education, tourism, sports and environment.

But in recent years, bilateral relations ran into trouble after Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Class-A World War II criminals are honored. More recently, the situation was exacerbated by the Japanese government's approval of several history textbooks which gloss over Japan's World War II atrocities committed in China and other Asian countries.

In such a difficult time, Hu proposed at a meeting with Koizumi in Jakarta, Indonesia, last month that China and Japan should promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, encourage people-to-people contacts and activities in order to further increase understanding and broaden mutual benefits.

Strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation is in conformity with the international trend of political multipolarization and economic globalization.

Multipolarization requires more communication among countries and dialogues and consultations on a multilateral basis, while globalization makes economies more interdependent: damage to one economy would also affect other economies.

Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world while China is the biggest developing country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Strengthening communication and cooperation between the two countries is conducive both to the prosperity and stability in Asia, and to the peace and development in the world.

Strengthening communications and cooperation in the political field is the foundation for bilateral relations. Leaders of the two countries had over the past decades attached great importance to political exchanges.

Late Chinese leader Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai and Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei made concerted efforts to normalize bilateral relations in 1972. The two countries signed three political documents -- the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement in 1972, the Peace and Friendship Treaty in 1978 and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration in 1998 -- to guide the development of Sino-Japanese ties. Leaders of the two countries had also exchanged many visits.

At a time when bilateral relations are in difficulties, President Hu made the five-point proposal after holding talks for several times with Koizumi, clearly pointing the way out.

Strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology is conducive to the development of both countries. The economies of China and Japan are highly complementary. Japan's capital, technology and market are helpful to China's economic development while China's resources, market and labor force have also given impetus to Japan's economic recovery.

In the 11 years before 2004, Japan was China's largest trading partner. China was Japan's second largest exports destination.

Media reports in Japan said the country's exports to the United States dropped by 9.8 percent in 2003 while exports to China increased by 33.3 percent at the same time. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China has signed 12,000 contracts over the past 14 years with Japan on the introduction of technologies, accounting for nearly one fifth of the total number of similar contracts China signed in that period.

Strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation will enhance mutual understanding.

As close neighbors separated only by a strip of water, the two cultures have been influencing each other, learning from each other and have achieved common development.

Chinese classic poetry and calligraphy have attracted many Japanese nationals while Japan's movies; cartoons, fashion and food are also favored by many Chinese.

The two countries have continuously expanded educational and academic exchanges, not only enhancing the friendship between the two peoples, but also building up a good environment for political and economic relations.

People-to-people exchanges and non-governmental contacts, which started even before the normalization of diplomatic ties, have also contributed to a healthy and stable development of the Sino-Japanese relations.

Despite difficulties facing Sino-Japanese relations at present, strengthening exchanges and cooperation in various fields remains the mainstream of the development of bilateral ties and reflects the earnest aspirations of the two peoples.

Therefore, the two countries should look forward to the future, expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation and further encourage civilian exchanges, so as to make the two peoples live in ever-lasting friendship and achieve a win-win situation in their cooperation.

Source: Xinhua