Dispelling ‘deep’ mutual distrust key to improving Sino-Japanese ties, Premier Li says

Premier Li Keqiang said Sino-Japanese relations were "very important" during a meeting yesterday with a long-established panel of experts, another sign of easing tensions between the two countries.

"Sino-Japanese relations are very important not only for the two countries but also for the region," Li said at the outset of the meeting in Beijing with members of the New Japan-China Friendship Committee for the 21st Century.

The meeting at the Great of the Hall of the People took place after members of the committee agreed that deep mutual distrust between the two countries, particularly in politics and security, should be dispelled by having more exchanges.

Li said China's basic policy toward Japan had been "consistent" since the two countries normalised ties in 1972.

The committee, an advisory body to the two governments, held a formal meeting for the first time since October 2011, following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's talks with President Xi Jinping last month.

The Abe-Xi talks, the first since both took power two years ago, on the margins of a regional economic summit on November 10 were symbolic rather than substantial but paved the way for the resumption of high-level exchanges.

Japan and China are also planning to restart a forum focused on ways to save energy, involving dozens of companies and senior government officials, late this month in Beijing. The forum, held every year since 2006, was suspended after the one in 2012. Relations had been in a deep freeze due to disputes over the ownership of the Diaoyu, or Senkaku, Islands and wartime historical issues.

The long-established committee, whose members include academics, writers and former diplomats, will present a package of measures for improved ties to the two governments.

The discussions in the capital marked the last time for the present members of the panel to get together. They agreed to ask the two governments to select new members as soon as possible to help repair relations.

The committee has been led by Japan Post president Taizo Nishimuro and former State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan since 2010. It has had four formal meetings since then. The committee dates back to 1984 after a deal between then Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and then Communist Party secretary general Hu Yaobang to develop ties.