The JCFA, founded in 1949, is one of the highest civilian organizations committed to promoting bilateral exchanges between the two countries.

Exchange of high-level visits resumed after Abe took over the Japanese prime minister's office. People-to-people exchanges have increased, too.

Japanese rescuers were the first international rescue team to reach Sichuan province to help save the May 12 earthquake survivors.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) destroyer Sazanami docked at Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, last month, becoming the first SDF vessel to do so since World War II.

In a recent report on Japan's China policy, Tokyo-based PHP Research Institute urged the Japanese government to approach China as an emerging world player.

(China Daily via agencies July 17, 2008)