Crucial to maintain responsible and pragmatic momentum of ties

If acted on with sincerity, the outcomes of the recent meetings Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had with the Japanese side in Tokyo will mark a significant remedial step for relations between China and Japan. One that will have the positive knock-on effect of strengthening regional stability.

It was with a shared historical sense of responsibility that China and Japan broke the ice between them, normalizing diplomatic relations in 1972; and it is with that sense of responsibility and the spirit of pragmatism that they have managed to keep relations on the right development track over the years. Despite this, the development of the ties has never been plain sailing, as it has repeatedly been troubled by the two neighbors' maritime disputes, divergences on historical issues and Tokyo's provocative relations with Taipei, etc.

However, an important reason why bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times since 1972, and remained at a high level of $300 billion for 15 consecutive years, with the accumulated bilateral investment reaching nearly $140 billion, is that the two sides have always sought to engage in clear-the-air dialogue whenever their ties have become strained. In this process, their historical bonds and cultural affinity have proved to be of practical value.