Dialogue mechanisms between China, Japan essential for Asia, forum hears

A consensus on peaceful development and win-win collaboration between China and Japan has been reached at the 19th Beijing-Tokyo Forum, which concluded in Beijing on Friday.

About 100 experts and scholars from the two countries who gathered for the two-day event unanimously believe that China and Japan should work together to build peace and security in Asia and the world, at a time when the risks of global division and regional conflicts continue to increase.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which outlines key principles for peace and friendship.

China and Japan should rekindle the original intention of the treaty, said the consensus, calling on China and Japan, as two major countries for the peace and prosperity of Asia and the world, to strive to build a peaceful and secure order in Asia and the world and make every effort to achieve this goal.

At this time, communication and dialogue are particularly important, said the consensus, suggesting that the two countries should establish structured dialogue mechanisms, especially at the grassroots level, and maintain smooth communication.

This was echoed by senior officials, experts and the public from both countries.

In his congratulatory message to the forum, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan and China bear important responsibilities for fostering peace and prosperity in the region and the international community at large, adding that it is of extreme importance for the two sides to conduct dialogue.

A survey released last week showed that the majority of respondents in both countries believe that both China and Japan should revisit the content and core spirit of the treaty and expand the consensus based on it.

Potential targeted

The forum also calls for stronger economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan in a bid to unleash more potential for a sustainable and open world economy.

"The economies of China and Japan complement each other well, and they face common challenges such as the environment, declining birthrates, aging populations and diminishing growth potential. Both countries should strive to create a market-oriented, rule-of-law and internationalized business environment, and promote the process of Asian economic integration," it said.

Since the implementation of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1978, bilateral relations have ushered in the best period in history, with more frequent exchanges between the governments and civil societies.

China's reform and opening-up policy, which took off the same year, have also led bilateral ties to a new level.

In 1981, trade volume between Beijing and Tokyo surpassed $10 billion, more than double the figure of $4.82 billion in 1978. Three decades later, China-Japan trade topped $300 billion in 2011.

As the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership took effect last year, observers believe that this will further promote regional economic cooperation and boost confidence in regional economic growth.

Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese ambassador to Japan, reaffirmed the achievements that China and Japan have made over the past 45 years, saying that economic complementarity and interdependence between the two countries have always existed and would continue to deepen despite significant changes in their respective economic structures.

"China and Japan are neighboring countries and major economies in the world. Continuing the path of peaceful and friendly cooperation between the two is in line with the intrinsic needs of each country's economic and social development," he said at the forum.

Launched in 2005, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum is an annual event that serves as an important platform for interaction and exchanges between China and Japan.

zhaoruinan@chinadaily.com.cn