Into 2006, whether the Sino-Japanese relations, which have been undergoing a hard frost, can be improved or not is a common concern. The political ties between the two countries continued to stay at a low tide last year, which not only held back their trade and economic connections but affected their cooperation in East Asia.

Recently, some Japanese politicians uttered harsh words against China one after another, believing that whoever takes a hard line against the country would win more votes. The "China threat" theory dished out by some Japanese politicians, along with the nation's defense strategy shift, made the relations even worse. Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect its new president this September, and there exists uncertainties in the new cabinet's China policy. But hope still remains for better ties for which both countries should make efforts.

Currently, the top priority should be to prevent the China-Japan ties from further deterioration. The halted exchanges of high-level visit in recent years are completely caused by Junichiro Koizumi's stubbornly clinging to visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, and it is highly possible that the Prime Minister would visit the shrine again in this September before leaving office. The ties might go even worse if the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Foreign Minister should, in an effort to please Koizumi and succeed him, follow the Prime Minister to the shrine visit.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Tokyo Trial, and a wise Japanese leader should not take wrong steps repeatedly regardless of admonitions from both home and abroad. Otherwise, he will not only set obstacles to meetings between state leaders, but leave an impression to the international community that Japanese leaders cling to a wrong historical outlook represented by the Yasukuni Shrine and deny Tokyo Trial rulings.

The Chinese side should keep a cool mind on what might happen. While sticking to principles, China should have the Japanese people in mind and continue upholding the basic line of China-Japan friendship. The deeper the relations bogged down, the more we need to take a long-term perspective and enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings through non-governmental exchanges, especially those between the youth.

On the joint development of disputed area on the East China Sea, China should seek for prospects facilitating long-term cooperation through equal-footing and pragmatic talks, while Japan should be prevented from triggering confrontation by resorting to unilateral extremities.

As an old Chinese saying goes, to sail against the current, either you keep forging ahead, or you will fall behind. Both sides should make earnest efforts to push their relations towards the positive end. This is a request of the fundamental interests of both countries as well as the common will of their people.

Recently, calls for leaders to mend ties have grown louder and louder in Japan's business circles and public opinion. Presently both governments agree that China-Japan relations are of vital importance and must be improved. The two countries have laid an inter-dependent economic foundation since the expansion of economic, trade ties and direct investment benefits both sides, but are bitterly divided in political and security fields which cannot be resolved in a short term. Currently, since China-Japan relations are cold in political area and warm in economic area, efforts must be made to heat the political ties so as to keep the economic ties warm, and avoid a situation that both ties get frozen.

It is natural that China and Japan have different views considering their different national conditions. But the key is, Japanese leaders shouldn't put their behavior above the ties with China, but should observe with real actions the spirit of the three political documents between the two countries, as well as the consensus and agreement reached between the two governments since the normalization of their diplomatic ties -- that's what we call to "abide by the rules"; on historical and Taiwan questions, they should build up mutual trust with Chinese leaders -- that's what we call to "keep one's words"; they should refrain from doing anything hurting the feelings of the Chinese people, such as visiting the Yasukuni Shrine -- that's what we call "not to act foolishly or recklessly". In the future, whoever Japanese leaders are, they will be able to keep good relations with China as long as they stick to the three points.

This comment by Liu Jiangyong, professor with the Institute of International Studies, Tsinghua University, is carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, Jan. 17, and is translated by People's Daily Online