Jnocnews reported on August 18, 2010 that the sixth public opinion survey of Sino-Japan relations had recently been officially published.

The survey shows that each nation's opinion of the other is growing steadily. This should come as no surprise, as the current Sino-Japanese relationship is warming and the two countries' contact has been deepening.

To some extent, the result reflects the national feelings of the two countries in the context of the development of the Sino-Japanese relationship.

According to the survey, in 2010 in China, 38.3 percent of public respondents and 45.2 percent of students questioned have a "very good" or "relatively good" impression of Japan. Compared with 2009, the favorable impression has increased 5.7 percent.

Younger generations clearly have a better impression of Japan than the general public in China. The students are from China's leading universities, and will be leaders and elites in future Chinese society. Their affifude toward Japan has far-reaching significance. That is to say, there is still space for Sino-Japanese relations to improve in the future, and the prospect of Sino-Japanese relations is good.

In Japan, 27.3 percent of respondents and 51.4 percent of people of insight have a favorable impression of China, increasing 0.7 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. Some 40.6 percent of public respondents and 61.8 percent of respondents from elite sectors are optimistic about the future trend of Sino-Japanese relations, representing an increase of 9.5 percent and 11.4 percent respectively. The fact that Japanese people expect better Sino-Japanese relations and that more than half of insightful Japanese people have a good impression of China indicates there is enhanced public support for the development of relations between the two countries.

The survey demonstrates that people who understand each other and have extensive knowledge about the other will be more rational, objective and comprehensive in thinking. Respondents in China were mostly city residents and college students. Relatively speaking, college students are skilled at using modern information and communication tools, such as the Internet. They can access Japanese media directly. They have a more comprehensive understanding of Japan, so they have a better impression of Japan than the general public.

Similarly, Japan's intellectual stratum understands China better. They are concerned with China's economic and social development, and some have even been to China, thus they have a much better impression. It is clear that the more frequent and deeper the exchanges between the two sides are, the more conducive to enhancing mutual trust and goodwill they will be of each other.

In response to the question, "What do you first think of when the opposite country is mentioned?" economic issues and cultural elements were mentioned most. For example, the Chinese public mostly mentioned Japan's "electronic products", and most Chinese students said the Japanese cherry. Meanwhile, most Japanese respondents chose "Chinese food" and "The Great Wall". The fact people have become concerned with the cultural elements of each other country shows that economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries have strengthened, and provides a broader perspective for the development of Sino-Japanese relations.

Sino-Japanese relations should not be limited to the political and historical level, but should also focus on the future. Multi-level and multi-domain exchanges and interactions should be strengthened between the two countries. Such exchanges are conducive to good public impressions of the two countries and will promote the settling of a number of thorny issues between the two.

A common idea in China and Japan is that "reconciliation benefits both." Strengthening exchanges and building mutual trust are the inevitable trend. The increase in favorability between the two is a positive sign, and this trend should be treasured and well-maintained.