4th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in session in Tokyo

The fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum, co-sponsored by China Daily, the sole English newspaper in China, and the non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO, is now in session in Tokyo.

In a message of congratulations to the forum, Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo spoke highly of the Beijing-Tokyo Forum in session for its crucial, important role in exchanges between the two countries. Sino-Japanese ties have reached a "new historic starting point", based on the "strategic relationship of mutual benefit" after having undergone the "ice-breaking", "ice-melting", "spring-greeting" and "spring-warming" visits to each other's country by leaders of both nations.

Noting that the year of 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan Peace & Friendship Treaty, he said, China is willing to go on making concerted efforts with the Japanese side to step up an all-round implementation of vital consensuses reached by their leaders and together push the Sino-Japanese strategic and mutually-beneficial relations to advance continuously and make fresh contributions in maintaining the world peace and promoting the common development.

"The Beijing-Tokyo Forum, which has offered a very good communication platform for the media, academic circles and non-governmental organizations, is of great significance to the two sides to recognize the past, grasp the present and think about the future," Dai said in the message.

China and Japan will push forward their relationship despite obstacles, outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said in a message to the forum.

"During President Hu Jintao's visit in May, the two countries signed a joint statement on promoting a strategic relationship of mutual benefit, which clearly shows the direction of bilateral relations," Fukuda said in his message to the Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum, which opened on September 16.

"Our future will not necessarily be smooth sailing, and could see many tests. I believe Japan and China will adhere to the joint statement and overcome difficulties, and move forward with full courage," Yasuo Fukuda said.

Sino-Japanese cooperation may well set a good example for countries with different social systems, said Wang Chen, director of the State Council Information office of China, at the fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum.

In a keynote speech at the plenary meeting, Wang said that there are important bases and favorable environments for the long-term development of bilateral friendly relations. For China-Japan friendship, he noted, geographical proximity is the natural link, political mutual trust serves as an important basis, mutual beneficial cooperation the economic basis and long-term people-to-people exchanges the important bridge, and, in the arena of international affairs, pose an active force to promote world peace and stable development.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai and Japanese foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, on behalf of their respective governments, advocated joint efforts to push forward the Sino-Japanese relations and conveyed good wishes for their further advance.

In his address at the plenary meeting of the Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum, Ambassador Cui Tiankai referred in particular to three "30th anniversaries", namely, the 30th anniversary of the signing of the "China-Japan Peace & Friendship Treaty, the 30th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up, and the 30th anniversary of late senior Chinese leader Deng Xiaopint's visit to Japan. Evidences of the last three decades have given an eloquent proof that evolution and development in Sino-Japanese relations are closely linked to the destinies of the two respective nations, Cui acknowledged, the long-term, healthy and stable growth of Sino-Japanese ties poses an essential condition for both nations to maintain prosperity and development in the complex, volatile international environment.

At the plenary meeting of the Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said the Japanese government attaches great importance to its ties with China and it is his conviction that this general trend will not be reversed.

"Because of the current change in Japan's political situation many people are highly concerned over Japan's policy toward China," Foreign Minister Komura said, referring to the uncertainty created by Fukuda's resignation. "But I'm certain there will not be any change in promoting our relationship. The path of Japan-China ties will not be swayed by either the international climate or domestic affairs," he added.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the hosting Chinese side at the forum, Zhu Ling, editor-in-chief of "China Daily", said the current forum is themed on Asia's future and the role of China and Japan. Representatives of both China and Japan would conduct a candid, rational exploration and exchange in numerous realms, such as in politics, economic cooperation, security and natural disaster relief effort, the environment, cereals and food security and mass media. And the political dialogue sub-forum is held in prestigious Tokyo University, at which some honorable Chinese and Japanese guests would be invited for a direct dialogue with Japanese college students.

The ongoing forum，which has drawn increasing high attention of both China and Japan, is highlighted by the presence of Chinese elite panel with scores of ranking government officials, including Wang Chen; former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing; Zhao Qizhen, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference ; Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association with Foreign Countries; and Ambassador Cui Tiankai; as well as business leaders, media moguls and noted scholars.

On the part of Japan, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Minister for Internaal Affairs Hiroya Masuda, Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Minister of the Environment Tetsuo Saito, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, among others, attended and addressed the forum. The current forum has exceeded any previous forum in term of its scale and the total number of participants at the forum.

The annual forum, co-sponsored by "China Daily" and the non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO, is held alternately in Beijing and Tokyo with a purport or goal to advance people-to-people, friendly exchanges between the two countries and provide an open space of discussion for the political, economical, academic and culture elite of the two countries. The first Tokyo-Beijing forum took place in Beijing in August 2005.

By People's Daily Online, and its co-authors are PD resident reporters in Japan Wu Changsheng and Yu Qing

By People's Daily Online