Healthy bilateral ties good for all

At a time when bilateral ties are warming up, whether or not the Chinese and Japanese peoples and their governments "use history as a mirror" to "look into the future" has become a major issue for both sides, and aroused the concern of Asia and the world.

Since bilateral ties have reached a very important juncture, the two sides should deal with each other with a calm mind and foresight. For that, they have to learn from the past to properly handle the present and the future. Only in this way can the two countries make steady progress and deepen cooperation for mutual benefit.

The two countries should not let some individuals destroy the hard-won fruits of bilateral relations. They should follow the established political codes contained in the series of documents and joint declarations and agreements. Also, they should adhere to the important consensuses and understanding reached by the leaders of two countries on historical issues such as the Taiwan question and the Diaoyu Islands dispute.

As China moves closer to the center of world stage and China-Japan ties enter a new historical period whose spillover effects have become more prominent, bilateral relations have become more important than ever. A peaceful and prosperous Sino-Japanese relationship will benefit not only the two countries, but also Asia and the regions beyond. A confrontational Sino-Japanese relationship, on the other hand, would be detrimental to not only the two neighbors, but also regional and global peace and security.

Zhang Xiaolei is an associate researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.