Tokyo-Beijing Forum held to boost ties, strengthen feelings

The 6th annual Tokyo-Beijing Forum, under the theme of "Asia's future: Japan, China's contribution", was held Monday in Tokyo to promote understanding and strengthen ties between the two nations.

Present at the forum include Wang Chen, director of China's State Council Information Office, Li Zhaoxing, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress and Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuoda.

"To deepen understanding between Japan and China is not only in the interest of the two countries, but also will benefit the region and the world," said Sengoku during an opening keynote speech.

"We should face the future and build a solid foundation for the long-term friendship, and continuously improve the feelings toward the other country," he added.

During the forum, the results of a public opinion poll on Chinese and Japanese's views of the other country were frequently cited by speakers. This year's poll shows 38.3 percent of grassroots Chinese citizens have positive views on Japan, 5.7 percentage points higher than in 2009. About 45.2 percent of Chinese students have a good impression about Japan.

Likewise, 27.3 percent of Japanese grassroots citizens and 51.4 percent of Japanese intellectuals feel good about China, both slightly higher than last year.

China's Wang touched on the mass media's responsibility in promoting ties and bettering feelings, saying media should introduce the overall facts of bilateral ties and pay more attention to the positive developments.

Participants were divided into five groups to further discuss bilateral political, economic, media, regional, and safety issues after the keynote speeches.

The forum is organized by the biggest Chinese English newspaper, China Daily, and Genron NPO, a Japanese think tank annually since 2005.

Source: Xinhua