EDITORIAL
The just-concluded visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao marks a new, positive chapter in China-Japan relations, which took a turn for the worse during the tenure of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi from 2001 to 2006.
Needless to say, both countries were eager to extract something good from the first visit to Japan by a Chinese president in ten years. Mr Hu met with the parliamentarians, played ping-pong, talked with students and toured historic temples to promote the warming relations between the two Asian giants. He also met Emperor Akihito three times, signifying the importance of the visit.
For his part, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda needed the Hu visit to raise his standing at home. His political career has been reeling from one crisis to another and his cabinet's approval rating is around 20 percent.
For Mr Hu, the visit was a chance to portray China as a friendly, good neighbour after weeks of protests over Tibet and human rights issues that had dogged China's Olympic torch relay.
In a message to Japanese readers in the Japanese-language magazine People's China, Mr Hu said: "I sincerely hope the people of the two countries can maintain friendship generation after generation and create a brighter future for the Sino-Japan friendship."
Emphasising the spirit of cooperation, the two prime ministers signed a joint statement on Wednesday to develop and strengthen their strategic, mutually beneficial relationship. Both sides were close to agreement on the approximate area where the two would launch natural gas exploration in the East China Sea.
The joint statement was the fourth political document between the two countries, following a joint statement in 1972, the Peace and Amity Treaty in 1978 and a joint declaration in 1998.
The latest statement is in marked contrast to the contentious atmosphere that surrounded then Chinese President Jiang Zemins November 1998 visit to Japan. On that occasion, China repeatedly mentioned historical issues connected to Japan's conflicts with China.
The warming relations are also linked to the economy. China is Japan's largest trading partner, with more than US$236.6 billion worth of annual business between them. China is a huge customer for Japan's high-tech products and both countries need to be able to continue their lucrative business.
As Mr Fukuda noted prior to the Hu visit: "Facts have proved that the development of long-term, stable, and good neighbourly friendship between China and Japan is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples."
Both sides apparently were eager to follow up on the successful visit to Japan in April 2007 by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Chinese counterpart pledged to work together on North Korea, energy development and environment while defusing thorny disputes over history and territory.
In Tokyo last Wednesday, Mr Fukuda and Mr Hu also confirmed in the joint statement that they would promote wide-ranging exchanges between the two nations, including alternating visits by each country's leader at least once a year and a high-level reciprocal visit in the security sector.
Given the positive outcome, the Chinese president's landmark visit to Japan will help set the course for greater peace and friendship between the two Asian giants. This, in turn, will contribute to greater peace and stability in the region.
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