Japanese called on to help put ties back on track

BEIJING - China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Thursday called on all Japanese people to work with the Chinese side to return China-Japan ties to the track of sound development.

"I hope Japanese people from all walks of life will take the general situation of bilateral ties into consideration, overcome current difficulties and work with the Chinese side to put the ties back on a track of sound development," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.

Jia made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese people from various circles in Beijing.

The delegates, led by former Japanese Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade Yohei Kono, included Satsuki Eda, a senior lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Japan and former president of the House of Councillors, Koichi Kato, head of the Japan-China Friendship Association, Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and some other Japanese people from the political and cultural circles.

Jia said China-Japan relations have witnessed significant development since their normalization 40 years ago and have brought great interests to the two countries and peoples.

The hard-won situation should be cherished. Only when the two countries take history as a mirror, can they look forward to the future, he added.

Jia said this year's 40th anniversary of the normalization of ties should be an opportunity for better developing China-Japan relations. However, despite China's repeated solemn representations, Japan has insisted on "nationalizing" the Diaoyu Islands, putting relations with China into an unprecedented and severe situation.

He noted that Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times. The historical facts and jurisprudential evidence for that are clear.

Japan's erroneous action has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, touched on the historical pain endured by the Chinese people and aroused their strong indignation and firm opposition, Jia said.

"Japan should realize the seriousness of the current situation, squarely face the disputes over the Diaoyu Islands and correct its mistake as soon as possible, so as to avoid further damaging China-Japan ties," Jia said.

Jia also spoke highly of Japanese group's history of making positive contributions to the improvement and progress of bilateral relations.

The Japanese delegates said bilateral relations with China are important for the two countries, Asia and the world as a whole. They have been concerned with, and endeavored for, the development of the two countries' friendship for a long time, and they find the current situation deplorable.

The delegates also vowed to continue to play an active role in the development of Japan-China relations.