China-Japan Relations: Experts, ex-officials hold symposium in Shanghai

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02:16

A symposium of over 200 academics, officials and former officials from both China and Japan have gathered in Shanghai to discuss the two countries' relationship. It is being held to honor the 40th anniversary of an important document. Yang Chengxi reports.

Relations between China and Japan are warming up. So say participants at a forum in Shanghai.

WANG WEIGUANG, DIRECTOR GENERAL COMMITTEE ON ETHNIC MINORITIES AND RELIGION, CPPCC "Peaceful development has been the foundation of China and Japan's relationship over the past four decades. This relationship is a hard-fought achievement that should not be tampered with.”

The symposium is co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Science, Fudan University and the Chinese Association For Japanese Studies.

WANG WEIGUANG, DIRECTOR GENERAL COMMITTEE ON ETHNIC MINORITIES AND RELIGION, CPPCC "I hope the two countries can further their cooperation, in, for example, the belt and road initiatives. If successful, the two countries can turn the challenges of globalization into opportunities."

For example, experts say mutual economic ties have made the two countries practically inseparable. Today, there are more than 32 thousand Japanese companies in China, and total trade volume reached 297 billion US dollars last year.

FUKUDA YASUO FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER "China has made great progress in its economic and social development. The two countries should understand each other's strengths and disadvantages in economics, science and technology, and work together better."

YANG CHENGXI SHANGHAI "The forum coincides with the 40th anniversary of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, an important paper that solidified the normalization of the two countries' relationship."

XU DUNXIN FORMER DEPUTY CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER "40 years ago I witnessed the whole process from negotiation to the signing of the treaty. It affirmed the political relationship between China and Japan from a legal standpoint. It also made important contributions to global peace and prosperity."

FUKUDA YASUO FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER "I believe the 'shared community for mankind' proposed by president Xi Jinping stresses cooperation over conflict, and it has great implications for the region and the world."

Despite recent conflicts like the feud over the Diaoyu islands, those at the symposium widely agree that Chinese-Japanese cooperation is the answer, and the only way to move forward. YCX, CGTN, SHANGHAI.