The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced its approval of eight history textbooks on April 3, 2001. Among the textbooks was one compiled by the New History Textbook Compilation Committee, which seriously distorts historical facts and beautifies aggressive wars. The Japanese side had to make 137 corrections, but failed to change the gist, which advocates its own historical views. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing on July 3 that the Japanese Government did not correct the controversial textbooks in accordance with the requests of the Chinese side. The textbooks, in spite of some modifications, are still dotted with serious historic errors.

On April 20, 2001, the Japanese Government, ignoring the overall situation of Sino-Japanese relations, permitted the patron of "Taiwan independence" forces, Lee Teng-hui, to "seek medical treatment¡± in Japan on "humanitarian" excuses. The Chinese side pointed out that Lee's so-called medical treatment tour is a political plot schemed by "Taiwan independence¡± forces that include Lee and Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian. The Japanese Government's granting of permission for Lee's Japan visit wantonly tramples on the three Sino-Japanese political documents. China strongly protested the Japanese Government's wrongdoings by ignoring China's solemn and just stand and permitting Lee's visit.

On August 13, 2001, ignoring firm oppositions from his own country as well as from China and other Asian neighbors, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid homage to the Yasukuni Shrine, where memorial tablets of top-class war criminals were enshrined. The Chinese Government and people expressed strong indignation toward this action of the Japanese leader, which damaged the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations and wounded the feeling of both the Chinese people and those from other victim countries.

During his one-day working visit to China on October 8, 2001, Koizumi visited the Memorial Hall of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression near Beijing's Marco Polo Bridge. During his first tour to the memorial hall, Koizumi said understanding and learning from that part of history was not just for the present, but should also be oriented to the future. He noted that Japan should make introspection on past history, which was of great importance to Japan's relations with China and other Asian neighbors. He also said Japan paid great attention to the importance of Japan-China ties, and the two countries should strengthen exchanges in political, economic, trade and cultural fields. With the 30th anniversary of normalization of bilateral relations as a turning point, Japan was willing to further develop Japan-China friendly exchanges, Koizumi added.

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said at his meeting with his Japanese counterpart that China hopes Japan will take advantage of the 30th anniversary of normalization of bilateral ties, adhere to the principle of the Joint Communiqu¨¦ of China and Japan, appropriately handle historical issues, and stick to the one China policy. China is willing to promote bilateral friendly and cooperative relations together with Japan, he added.

During the APEC meeting in Shanghai, President Jiang met with Koizumi. Leaders of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) met at the ASEAN and three countries (10+3) meeting in Brunei. These visits and meetings achieved positive results, and Sino-Japanese relations gradually returned to their normal track of development.

China and Japan designated the year 2002 as the Sino-Japanese Friendship Year, in which a series of activities will be launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations. These include the strengthening of exchanges and contacts, and the holding of the Japanese Culture Year in China and Chinese Culture Year in Japan. China hopes that Japan's Prince and Princess Takamado accept its invitation to visit China.