The 17th Beijing-Tokyo Forum, an annual event representing the highest public diplomatic communication platform between China and Japan, opened this Monday.

Co-hosted by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and Japanese non-profit think tank Genron NPO, this year's forum focused on Sino-Japanese relations amid the great changes taking place in the world and the reconstruction of international cooperation.  

During the two-day event, guests from political, business, academic and media circles of the two countries discussed a range of issues both in-person and online. Topics included bilateral relations, epidemic prevention and control, digital society and artificial intelligence, free trade and economic recovery, and regional peace and security.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the opening ceremony via video link, emphasizing the continuity of friendly bilateral cooperation as next year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. 

Wang also underscored the need for the two countries to rebuild mutual trust, upgrade collaboration, manage differences and expand communication to jointly handle global issues. 

Xu Lin, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), and Yasuo Fukuda, former Japanese prime minister, delivered the keynote speeches.

Du Zhanyuan, president of CIPG; Yasushi Akashi, former United Nations under-secretary-general; and Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese foreign minister, also spoke at the opening ceremony. 

In his speech, Xu Lin stressed that China and Japan should draw lessons and wisdom from history, treasure the bilateral friendship and reject confrontation. As China has been Japan's largest trade partner for 14 consecutive years and exchanges between the two sides have been frequent, the two countries have every reason to be good friends and cooperative partners, he added. 

Xu also called for Sino-Japanese collaboration in such areas as COVID-19 vaccine development, climate change, ocean protection, digital economy, biotechnology, high-end manufacturing and regional hotspot issues, to deliver real benefits to the peoples of both countries. 

In his video address, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said that as the focus of the international economy and politics is shifting from the Atlantic region with Europe and America as the centers to the Oceania and Indian Ocean regions with East Asia as the center, more issues and conflicts have emerged in Asia. 

In addition, with widening wealth gaps among countries and global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and food and energy shortages, China and Japan must enhance cooperation in various fields and maintain friendly and peaceful bilateral relations.

To enhance the popular support for Sino-Japanese ties, CIPG President Du Zhanyuan suggested the two sides should deepen media cooperation to spread accurate information and goodwill, conduct more exchanges in culture, music, art, sports and other areas, and strengthen communication between young people.

Du noted that more efforts should be made to promote the early entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to create more convenient conditions for bilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation.

A panel discussion chaired by Zhao Qizheng, former minister of the SCIO, was held following the opening ceremony focusing around the forum's main theme. Among those in attendance were Lou Jiwei, China's former finance minister; Cheng Yonghua, former Chinese ambassador to Japan; Shinsuke Sugiyama, Japan's former vice foreign minister; and Takehiko Nakao, former president of the Asian Development Bank.

Starting in 2005, the annual Beijing-Tokyo Forum has been held alternately between the two capitals, with the aim of improving bilateral relations and deepening Sino-Japanese understanding.

This year's forum was originally scheduled to be held in Beijing, but was instead convened simultaneously at venues in both Beijing and Tokyo due to the pandemic control requirements.

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