Taiwan question key to Sino-Japanese ties

Thanks to the older generation political leaders' strategic foresight and political wisdom, China and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1972, ushering in a new chapter of peaceful and friendly bilateral relations after the end of World War II. And the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Japanese ties therefore is an apt occasion to review the history of, and learn lessons from, the development of bilateral ties, so the two sides can take forward their relations in the new era.

Over the past five decades, China and Japan have seen substantial progress in their relationship and mutually beneficial cooperation, which have brought huge benefits to their peoples, despite the differences in their social systems and ideologies.

On the economic front, for example, more than 30,000 Japanese companies have set up shop on the Chinese mainland, bilateral trade has soared from less than $1 billion in 1971 to $371.4 billion in 2021, and Japan's direct investment in China has reached $120 billion. The two countries are not only neighbors, but also inseparable economic partners.