Major issues in China-Japan relations over the past 40 years

2005-2010 - Revival of Sino-Japanese relations

In April 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the conclusion of the Asia-Africa leaders summit in Jakarta, a day after Koizumi apologized for Japan's wartime atrocities in Asia.

The two leaders agreed to develop bilateral ties based on the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Peace and Friendship Treaty and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration.

However, following Koizumi's repeated visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where 14 Class A war criminals are honored, relations between the two countries became frosty, with high-level visits between the two sides suspended and exchanges in various areas severely affected.

In October 2006, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe paid an "ice-breaking" visit to China. During his stay in China, the two countries agreed to foster mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests in a bid to realize "peaceful coexistence, friendship for generations, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development."

They also agreed to adhere to the principles prescribed in the three political documents and properly handle the problems that hamper the development of bilateral ties.

In April 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid a visit to Japan. The tour, which re-opened top-level visit exchanges between China and Japan, was widely acclaimed as "ice-thawing."

In December 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited China in return. The visit, dubbed as "spring-herald," further clarified the basic principles and essence of their mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests.

From May 6 to 10, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government. During the visit, President Hu met with Emperor Akihito and held talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

They reached broad agreement on promoting China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit in an all-round way and signed on May 7, 2008, a six-point China-Japan Joint Statement on All-round Promotion of Strategic Relationship of Mutual Benefit (中日關于全面推進戰略互惠關系的聯合聲明).

On August 8, 2008, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his wife Kiyoko attended the Summer Olympics in Beijing and met with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

On April 29, 2009, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso paid his first official visit to China since he took office and held official talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on bilateral ties, the global economic downturn and other major issues of common concern.