We are here to have serious discussions about China-Japan relations and to try to come up with a prescription that will allow Sino-Japanese relations to change from their current course and go the way of friendship.

To begin with, let us consider the basic principles governing Chinese-Japanese relations. These principles, laid down in the China-Japan Joint Statement (1972), the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1978) and the China-Japan Joint Declaration (1998), were not put forward unilaterally and did not arise from one party's own perspectives. These principles epitomize the efforts made by Chinese and Japanese leaders to safeguard the mutual interests of both countries as well as the interests of their own nations.

Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening up, had great expectations for Sino-Japanese ties in the 21st century. Unfortunately, the relations have, somehow, plunged to their lowest point since the Sino-Japanese rapprochement of 1972.

The Japanese economy that began to slow in 2002 has now showed signs of recovery. Many people, therefore, remark that Japan's economy is emerging from the "lost decade." Similarly, we may ask the question: Will Chinese-Japanese relations be able to step out from the shadow of "the past five years of retrogression?"

In the face of seemingly insurmountable political stumbling blocks, we should not sit waiting for things to make a turn for the better, because we are not mere onlookers.

The Chinese Government has always been committed to strengthening Sino-Japanese ties, never giving up even during tough times.

In April 2005, demonstrations targeting Japan took place in a number of Chinese cities. The Chinese Government encouraged the Chinese media to guide public opinion along the right channels. Moreover, a number of important people who had influence on Sino-Japanese ties, among them the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, rushed to major Chinese cities to deliver speeches. These speakers all emphasized that China-Japan relations involve the interests of both countries and, more generally, harmony in Asia. They urged people to improve their understanding of the history of China-Japan exchanges and to form a complete picture of Japanese people's attitude towards China.

China and Japan are neighbors, in the past, at present, in the future and forever. Properly handling neighborly relations is bound to be a vitally important aspect of each country's national policy. The relations between China, the world's largest developing country, and Japan, the world's second strongest economic power, is of paramount importance to the immediate and long-term interests of both nations and to the future of Asia. Doubtless, this is the consensus reached by both parties.

Some describe Sino-Japanese ties as "icy politically but hot economically." Some believe that "icy political ties" are bound to seriously affect the "hot economic relations." Others think that political and economic affairs can be dealt with separately. I have always believed that a cold political climate prevents economic co-operation from reaching the heights it is capable of reaching. Economic progress in both China and Japan could have reached an amazingly high level but for the "political iciness." The same can be said of the contributions made by the two countries to the Asian economy as a whole.

It is vitally important that we look to the two countries' historical ties and cultural exchanges to discover ways in which we can improve current China-Japan relations.

Despite the twists and turns of the 19th and 20th centuries, China and Japan have enjoyed extensive and intensive cultural exchanges for more than 1,000 years.

Master Jianzhen (Ganjin), a Chinese Buddhist monk of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) who introduced the Ritsu school of Buddhism to Japan, remarked on the eve of his voyage to Japan that the country was a land predestined for Buddhism. The word "predestination" has profound connotations, relating to geographic closeness as well as cultural and religious exchanges, that go beyond the introduction of Buddhism.

These "predestined" exchanges have lasted for centuries and are expected to flourish in the future.

As is commonly known, ancient Chinese culture had a far-reaching influence on Japan. In the more recent past, however, China has learnt a lot from Japan. Chinese thinkers, academicians and literary masters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Zhang Taiyan, Wang Guowei, Liang Qichao and Lu Xun, translated the works of Japanese thinkers like Fukuzawa Ykichi, Kato Hiroyuki, Nakae Chomin and Kotoku Shusui into Chinese. Modern literature, poetry and drama in early 20th century China were much influenced by Japanese texts. It is estimated that China borrowed more than 1,000 important terms from Japan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, covering natural science, social sciences and liberal arts studies.

Today, the number of Chinese students majoring in the Japanese language keeps rising. And more and more Chinese and Japanese students are studying in each other's country. Statistics show that the number of Chinese students in Japan reached 80,000 last year, accounting for two-thirds of the foreign students there.

"Warm currents" of cultural exchanges have continued to flow between the two countries in recent years, in spite of the freezing political climate.

This kind of public diplomacy should be promoted so that exchanges are conducted in multiple fields, thus facilitating the improvement of general Sino-Japanese ties.

Public diplomacy refers to exchanges carried out by organizations and people other than foreign ministries and leaders. Universities, companies, research institutions, media, cultural circles and important private citizens can all play a part.

Public diplomacy is primarily meant for promoting mutual understanding between the Chinese and Japanese public through multiple channels. This, in turn, will help build up a broad public-opinion basis facilitating the progress of political and economic ties between the two nations.

Because public diplomacy takes various forms, it works in a more natural way.

Seven Japan-China friendship organizations, led by the late former Japanese prime minister Hashimoto Ryutaro, visited China in March this year. Media regarded the visit as a weather vane pointing to the direction that future Japanese-Chinese relations will take. This is a good example of public diplomacy.

"Media diplomacy" and "youth diplomacy" should be particularly encouraged.

Chinese and Japanese media approach things from different perspectives and have different ways of reporting. This is only natural. But irresponsible reporting only deepens misunderstanding and can make things go from bad to worse. This must be avoided at all cost.

It is advisable for the media to use history as a mirror, refrain from going to extremes, look at the other side objectively and treat one another in a friendly manner. On this basis, the media can expect to do their job well, facilitating the two-way flow of information about politics, economics, society and culture.

The 21st Century Committee of Japan-China Friendship proposed two years ago that young people from both countries be offered more opportunities of getting in touch with each other. As a result, this year has seen more than 1,000 Chinese and Japanese high school students visiting each other's country. I appreciate this very much. If the plan goes well, thousands of Chinese and Japanese students, and in turn their parents, teachers, schoolmates and neighbors, will be able to have a better understanding of the real China and Japan.

We will have four grand opportunities for the youth to have mutual visits in the upcoming four years: the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in 2007, the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the 30th anniversary of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. All these public diplomacy opportunities should be treasured.

A wall seems to stand between China and Japan at the present stage. This is a wall of differing understandings of history. This is also a wall of psychology. In the course of the progress of human civilization, it is the "wall" in people's hearts that is most worrying. I hope that both parties find a way to smash the hopefully fragile wall that exists in the hearts of parts of the Chinese and Japanese public. This will be the foundation by which the two nations can walk into the future hand in hand.

The author is vice-director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

(China Daily August 7, 2006)