Strategic experts from China, the US and Japan gathered in
Beijing for the first time to discuss strategic issues concerning
energy sources in the East China Sea during a two-day meeting that
concluded Friday.
The think tank talks focused on the strained relations between
China and Japan and stressed the importance of eliminating
differences between them and strengthening bilateral
cooperation.
Participants discussed how to promote mutual understanding and
enhance cooperation through dialogues.
Among those present were Wu Jianmin, president of China
Foreign Affairs University, Wang Jisi, dean of Peking
University's School of International Studies, James Steinberg,
former US deputy national security adviser, Jeffrey Bader, director
of the China Initiative at the Brookings Institution, Koji
Watanabe, senior fellow of Japan Center for International Exchange,
and Yukio Okamoto, former special advisor to the Japanese Prime
Minister.
The participants decided to convene this meeting in the wake of
friction between China and Japan earlier this year. The proposal
for the meeting originated in the Brookings Institution and the
Center for Strategic and International Studies, which proposed the
gathering to Peking University's School of International
Studies.
Sino-US think tank talks, which started in 1998, have been known
as the "Second Channel Diplomacy," drawing important think tank
agencies from both sides.
The organizers decided to hold another meeting in Japan in the
first half of next year to continue their discussions. They hope
these meetings will help deepen their mutual understanding and
close gaps among the three countries.
The participants wish to make clear that views and
recommendations they put forward during the meeting are not
representing their governments.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2005)