How to handle China-Japan relations is a question currently under the consideration of the two sides. Both China and Japan hope to develop bilateral relations and realize friendship for generations to come, that is a major common point between China and Japan.

The foundation of inter-state relations is, in the final analysis, the common interest of both sides. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in 1972, the common interests of both sides have undergone unprecedented development in depth and breadth.

Last year, China replaced the United States to become Japan's largest trade partner; and Japan, on its part, became China's third largest trade partner behind the European Union (EU) and the United States. Japan's investment made in China has topped U$66.6 billion, the number of people working directly or indirectly in Sino-Japanese joint ventures has approached 10 million. It is crystal clear that an economic situation characterized by "you are among us and we are among you" has taken shape between China and Japan, moreover, this situation continues deepening.

Despite the difficulties of one kind or another existing between the two countries, the major common interests between the two sides in the economic field will undoubtedly play a key role in stabilizing bilateral ties.

An attractive general trend has emerged in international relations since the middle of the 20th century: Difficulties appeared in bilateral ties were resolved within a multilateral framework. The most typical example is the contradictions between France and Germany that became enemies for a thousand years were properly settled by developing common interests in the process of the construction of the EU.

France and Germany had been fighting each other for more than 1,100 years. According to statistics from historians, the two countries fought a total of more than 200 battles, including 23 major ones, averaging one major battle fought once every 50 years. Such wars failed to relieve the grudges between France and Germany, on the contrary, the hatred went deeper and deeper, the problems accumulated over the years could not be resolved overnight.

How to solve the thousand-year-old hatred and grudges between France and Germany had always been a major issue of concern to insightful personages of the two nations.

In 1943, Jean Monnet, then member of the National Liberation Committee of France, wrote to General Charles De Gaulle, in the letter he pointed out: Defeating Germany, winning the war admits of no doubt. The present problem needing consideration is how to win peace after the war and avoid falling into the rut of World War I, the key to achieving this is to properly solve the problem concerning the defeated nation Germany.

Monnet proposed solving the French-German thousand-year-old grudges through the construction of Europe. In 1950, he submitted to the then Foreign Minister Robert Schuman his idea on French-German reconciliation and the establishment of a European coal and steel incorporated company, the idea was accepted which later became the main content of Schuman's plan.

Monnet's conception has to date been translated into reality, this cannot but be regarded as a great creation in human history. There have been wars since the emergence of human society, however, war such as that broken out between France and Germany has been no longer possible today.

The basic spirit of the "Monnet concept" is that the two countries, in developing their common interests, have realized friendship for generations to come., the "Monnet concept" deserves consideration by the two sides of China and Japan.

The late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai once summed up Sino-Japan relations as: "2000-year friendship, 50-year antagonism." The history of hostility between China and Japan is not as long as that between France and Germany. The secret of lasting peace built between France and Germany lies in the fact that the two nations, in the process of building up Europe, have greatly deepened and developed bilateral common interests and have formed a situation in which neither of them can go forward without the other. This state is a win-win situation, which benefits not only the French and German people, but also the European people and the people of the world at large.

On November 29 last year, the Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus leaders of China, Japan and the ROK held a meeting in Vientiane, Laos, and unanimously decided to establish an East Asia Community as their long-term goal of struggle. History will prove that this is a decision of far-reaching historic significance. It is entirely possible for China and Japan, within the multilateral framework of the construction of an East Asian Community, to greatly deepen and develop common interests, so as to realize the two peoples' long-cherished wish for friendship from generation to generation.

The above article is published on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, June 16 and translated by People's Daily Online