It's been 45 years since China and Japan signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Cao Bing sat down exclusively with former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and asked him about his thoughts on cooperation, disagreement and the future of the bilateral relationship.

CAO BING Beijing "Thank you very much for joining us on CGTN. Mr. Fukuda."

YASUO FUKUDA Former Prime Minister of Japan "It's quite difficult to make this assessment. That's 45 years, a long time, isn't it? But it really reminded me of what happened over the past 45 years. Good things happened and bad things happened as well. As for the national sentiment towards each other, I don't think it has improved much, or even it is getting worse. It was not that good before either. I think we need to carefully rethink the reason for that once again. If you ask me to give my score on the relationship, maybe 80 because we have come to where we are right now through dialogue and no war at all. But there are also many troubles we came across, so sometimes I would also think to give only 50."

CAO BING Beijing "Over the past 45 years, China-Japan relations have witnessed ups and downs, honeymoon periods and confrontation periods. What do good China-Japan relations mean for Asia and the world at large?"

YASUO FUKUDA Former Prime Minister of Japan "Well, problems occur in the relationship between the two countries, we can't expect it to be good all the time. The important thing is whether or not the problem can be solved through mutual dialogue. Well, fortunately, China and Japan have solved things many times through discussions. But still, we have some complaints about each other. We shouldn't just leave the problem there unsolved."

CAO BING Beijing "According to opinion polls, 41.2 percent of Chinese and 68.4 percent of Japanese think that relations between the two countries are 'not good.' Many young people in China and Japan say that they have never heard of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. What is the possible reason? At this stage, what kind of efforts are needed to deepen mutual understanding?"

YASUO FUKUDA Former Prime Minister of Japan "I think it is necessary to have exchanges between the people. So, you know, I think the Chinese people's favorability for Japan is better than the Japan people's favorability toward China. This is because I think a lot of Chinese people come here for sightseeing, see the country of Japan, and the people from their own eyes. By doing that, can help develop mutual understanding. But unfortunately, there are not many Japanese people visiting China. I think the people of Japan in Japan also need to visit China more and more and learn the Chinese people's way of thinking, or understand each other. I hope the two peoples can think of the other as a good partner and trusted friend."

CAO BING Beijing "Where would you recommend Japanese people to come and visit in China?"

YASUO FUKUDA Former Prime Minister of Japan "I like things that has travel through time, Also, I know Xi'an best, so I think Xi'an is a good choice. But there are good places everywhere in China. Many places have been rebuilt into tourism sites. I think there is a big gap between the image of China that Japan people have in the past and the reality of today. And I really want the Japanese people to see it on their own. I believe they will like it."