Mutual trust is key to China-Japan relations

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua said Thursday that establishing mutual trust in political and security fields is an important foundation for ensuring long-term and healthy development of China-Japan relations.

The Japanese government's move to "nationalize" the Diaoyu Islands last September had a major impact on the bilateral relations which resulted in the deterioration of the relations, Ambassador Cheng said in a keynote speech at the 2013 Sino-Japan Friendship Conference of Kyushu.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama attended the forum.

The Chinese side can not be blamed for the current bilateral relations and is unwilling to see the relations deteriorate, Cheng said.

It is the hope of the Chinese side that the Japanese side has a correct view of history and the current situation and take practical measures to work with the Chinese side to seek proper ways to manage and settle the Diaoyu Islands issue through dialogue and consultations, he said.

The ambassador pointed out that the recent negative trend seen frequently in Japan in respect to history has provoked great anger among people of some Asian countries including China and the Republic of Korea that were victimized by Japan's aggression during World War II. The international community has also pay grave attention to it.

"The Chinese government has always insisted that the history of aggression should be treated correctly and a grave lesson should be taken from it in light of the principle to take history as a mirror and look into the future," Cheng said.

"To ensure long-term and healthy development China-Japan relations, establishing mutual trust in political and security fields is an important foundation," he stressed.

Murayama, who served as prime minister from 1994 to 1996, said that Japanese and Chinese leaders reached a tacit understanding on "putting aside disputes over the Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu in China)" in 1972.

The current leaders of the two countries should respect the wisdom of the older generation leaders, put aside the disputes over the islands and avoid conflicts, said the 89-year-old politician, who was born in Kyushu.

Cheng spoke highly of the status and history of the Kyushu area, which is located in the nearest place with China, in boosting communication and friendship between the Chinese and Japanese people.

He said Saga Prefecture of Kyushu was where Chinese alchemist Xu Fu most likely landed in 210 BC, and Xu's famous legendary eastward voyage to Japan is believed to be the earnest contact between people of the two countries.

Almost 300 people from 22 Sino-Japan friendship groups in Kyushu attended the conference, co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka and Fukuoka Prefecture's Japan-China Friendship Association.

The conference adopted a declaration on Japan-China friendly exchanges. According to the document, Japan and China have overcome many difficulties for more than 40 years. For the future, the two sides should make greater efforts to build lasting peace.