China and Japan need to move their relations forward

Former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi asked her Chinese and Japanese panelists to describe what their countries will be in 2030.

The Chinese and Japanese experts characterized their own countries in 16 years ahead in remarkably similar terms: democratic, peaceful and prosperous.

Kawaguchi presided over a panel discussion on the political relations between China and Japan at the 10th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Tokyo on Sept 28.

But both sides harbored suspicions about the other's image and motives.

Four Chinese panelists, who are scholars and veteran officials, were concerned about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration's decision to allow Japan the right to collective self-defense and Japan's attitude toward its war history.

At the forum, Chinese participants tried their best to explain China's development blueprint and its implications to their Japanese counterparts.

Wu Jianmin, vice-chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, maintained that China benefited from the peaceful environment in Asia as it has experienced rapid development over the past 30 years.

China has followed on the heels of Japan and the "four small dragons" - Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore - and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Wu said.

Former Chinese ambassador to Japan Chen Jian criticized Abe for taking China as a threat and attempting to "contain" China in his globe-trotting diplomacy.

Chen explained China had given priority to economic development for a long period of time. The military build-up is just catching up.

"China does not have any intention to invade another country and acquire a sphere of influence," Chen said.

The former diplomat said China has the right to protect freedom of navigation for the sea lanes that are important to it.

Four Japanese participants, who were Local Revitalization Minister Shigeru Ishiba and lawmakers, questioned China's strategy to rise economically and militarily. They gamely defended Japan's image.

Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General ShigeruIshiba said Japan is becoming realistic rather than rightist.