From Xinhuanet:
"BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda starts a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao. His visit is expected to boost political trust and economic cooperation between the two countries and lay a solid foundation for China and Japan to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties in the coming year.
Liu Xingqing has talked to an expert on international politics, and asked him how Sino-Japanese relations have evolved over the past few years.
Just one week after the visit to Qingdao by a Japanese warship, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is now in Beijing for his first official visit since taking office in August this year. Professor Xiong Lili believes this arrangement has sent a clear signal. Xiong said: "It has sent a signal that the new administration is willing to continue stably improving relations with China and wants to keep high level channels for exchanges."
The China - Japan relationship froze during Junichiro Koisumis administration but has been improving since Koisumi left office in 2006. But improving relations does not rule out differences. Disputes over the Diaoyu island and exploration of oil and gas resources in the East China sea are still nagging issues affecting the two neighbors. But according to Professor Xiong, Sino-Japanese relations this year are relatively stable.
Professor Xiong said: "The relation between China and Japan over the past year is generally stable, especially after the massive earthquake in Japan this March, China has provided swift and generous assistance; at the same time, increasing economic interdependence has created good conditions for such a stable relation"
Economic cooperation is indeed a big part of this bilateral relation. But this field alone is not enough in supporting such an important relation. Building political trust is equally important, and Prime Minister Nodas visit is expected to do just that. But many worry it is not easy to keep consistent political trust with a country that frequently changes leadership. Noda is the sixth Prime Minister over the past five years.
Professor Xiong said: "Despite frequent leadership changes, its basic foreign policy does not change very often. No matter who takes office, Japans policy toward China tends to be continuing a stable bilateral relation."
Reporter: "Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic ties, no matter where politics take Japan in the future, and what differences remain between the two countries, building political trust and enhancing economic cooperation is always in the interests of both China and Japan."
Japanese Prime Minister visits China - Xinhua | English.news.cn
"BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda starts a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao. His visit is expected to boost political trust and economic cooperation between the two countries and lay a solid foundation for China and Japan to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties in the coming year.
Liu Xingqing has talked to an expert on international politics, and asked him how Sino-Japanese relations have evolved over the past few years.
Just one week after the visit to Qingdao by a Japanese warship, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is now in Beijing for his first official visit since taking office in August this year. Professor Xiong Lili believes this arrangement has sent a clear signal. Xiong said: "It has sent a signal that the new administration is willing to continue stably improving relations with China and wants to keep high level channels for exchanges."
The China - Japan relationship froze during Junichiro Koisumis administration but has been improving since Koisumi left office in 2006. But improving relations does not rule out differences. Disputes over the Diaoyu island and exploration of oil and gas resources in the East China sea are still nagging issues affecting the two neighbors. But according to Professor Xiong, Sino-Japanese relations this year are relatively stable.
Professor Xiong said: "The relation between China and Japan over the past year is generally stable, especially after the massive earthquake in Japan this March, China has provided swift and generous assistance; at the same time, increasing economic interdependence has created good conditions for such a stable relation"
Economic cooperation is indeed a big part of this bilateral relation. But this field alone is not enough in supporting such an important relation. Building political trust is equally important, and Prime Minister Nodas visit is expected to do just that. But many worry it is not easy to keep consistent political trust with a country that frequently changes leadership. Noda is the sixth Prime Minister over the past five years.
Professor Xiong said: "Despite frequent leadership changes, its basic foreign policy does not change very often. No matter who takes office, Japans policy toward China tends to be continuing a stable bilateral relation."
Reporter: "Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese diplomatic ties, no matter where politics take Japan in the future, and what differences remain between the two countries, building political trust and enhancing economic cooperation is always in the interests of both China and Japan."
Japanese Prime Minister visits China - Xinhua | English.news.cn
