Welcome signs neighbors looking to build trust

Mutual distrust seems to have been the hallmark of relations between China and Japan over the past two decades. Prospective thaws in their frosty relations have proved to be the warming rays of false dawns, and each time the two close neighbors have become only further estranged. Thanks to the dedicated efforts from both sides, it now seems there is the real possibility that the bleak picture is about to change.

In Lima, Peru, President Xi Jinping had a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during which the two leaders agreed to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between the two neighbors in accordance with the principles and directions stipulated in the four political documents between the two sides.

This upturn was further highlighted by Ishiba in a recent program on TBS, in which he said it is extremely important that as Japanese Prime Minister he visit China. That the trust between the top leaders of the two countries cannot be superficial and that it must be developed through interactions.

Considering that Ishiba has previously emphasized the importance of relations between Japan and the United States, and that US president-elect Donald Trump has reportedly informed Tokyo, that he would like to hold talks with Ishiba in mid-January, that Ishiba prefers to hold their first formal bilateral summit when he visits the United States in February or possibly later has led to speculation he is seemingly hoping to talk face-to-face with the Chinese leader before speaking with the new US president in person, which would be a marked change of Japanese practice.

There has been no further indication that Ishiba may change the tradition of recent years, in which a Japanese prime minister is among the first group of foreign leaders to visit the US when there is a power transition in Washington. Yet, it is still good to learn that Ishiba highly values his country's ties with China and is hoping to build more trust with Beijing through high-level interactions. After all, for two close neighbors such as China and Japan, estrangement will only draw the two sides further apart while engagement and cooperation cater to the interests of both countries.

Ishiba's favorable remarks can be seen as the latest signal of goodwill following a series of efforts both sides have been taking lately to try and thaw relations and get bilateral ties back onto a normal track. Last week, the two neighbors reached 10 important consensuses to boost exchanges during the visit to Beijing by Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya.

Marking an important step in improving bilateral ties, the 10-point consensus agreed on by China and Japan covers such areas as vigorously promoting youth exchanges, building more platforms for exchanges between their sister cities, strengthening sports exchanges and cooperation and encouraging cooperation in cultural and media fields. The two countries have also vowed to work together to make Expo 2025 Osaka a platform for communication and friendship between the two peoples. Fostering better people-to-people ties can provide a solid foundation for better understanding and friendly relations between the two peoples.

In another effort to build political mutual trust, China and Japan also held consultations under their high-level political dialogue mechanism in Beijing in November. All this has helped lay the groundwork for more high-level exchanges, which have been scarce in recent years and which, judging by Ishiba's latest remarks, has become an urgent issue that needs to be addressed by the two countries.

In the face of the increasing global turbulence, China and Japan, as two important countries, whose development is closely linked to each other, should demonstrate strategic composure and steer clear of disruptions instigated by third parties, such as the push for decoupling and building "small yards with high fences".

China's development is an opportunity for the world, not a challenge, and this is especially true for neighboring countries such as Japan. It is essential that both countries look to the future and the larger picture of bilateral ties, properly handle major issues of principle and manage differences in a constructive manner so as to consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations and open new horizons for bilateral cooperation.