Among the Japanese contingent is Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Sadakazu Tanigaki and Katsuya Okada, vice-president of the opposition Democratic Party. 

"I am optimistic about relations between the two countries," Okada said.

"As long as we maintain full-scale and in-depth exchanges, relations will have a solid foundation," he said.

The forum, co-founded by China Daily and Tokyo-based nonprofit group Genron-NPO, serves as a platform for high-level dialogue between the two countries.

Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to Japan, speaks at the fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo September 16, 2008. [chinadaily.com.cn]

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura addresses the opening session of the 4th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo September 16, 2008. [chinadaily.com.cn]

(China Daily September 16, 2008)