People to people talk enhance mutual understanding
Updated: 2013-03-05 17:47
By Jiao Xiaoli ( chinadaily.com.cn)

In January I was invited to take part in The Japan-China Dialogue: Toward Future-Oriented Japan-China
Relationship over four days in Tokyo. It was by organized academics trying to pave the way for peace andprosperity in the region. The co-hosts were the World Resources Institute and the Japan Forum forInternational Relations, and it provided a great platform for discussing energy and environment
cooperation, which is crucial for the sustainable development of both nations andbeyond.
There were about 100 participants from organizations such as the Global Forum of Japan, the Japan
Forum on International Relations, the World Resources Institute, Beijing Normal University, Zhejiang
University, American University, the Center for Global Environmental Policy, Qingdao University ofSciences and Technology, Eastern China University of Law and Politics, Beijing Asia-Pacific Consulting
Center for Environment and Development, Japan Seikei University, and Japan Institute for Global
Environmental Strategies.
The session on environment and energy session was co-chaired by Dr Hu Tao of the World Resources
Institute and Professor Ryokichi Hirono of Seikei University in Tokyo. He is also looking to continuecooperation with Dr Hu Tao of the World Resources Institute, pursuing joint research in sustainable cities,
trade and investment, and other areas. The two parties will host another round of meetings in Beijing thismonth.
The Japan Forum on International Relations was founded in 1987, and its connections are extensive. It
publishes a bimonthly email magazine that has a circulation of to 10,000 readers worldwide.
When those attending the dialogue were introduced to Dr Kenichi Ito, he greeted us quotingConfucius:"Isn't it so good to welcome friends coming from far away?" which was particularlytouching for theChinese. Ito highlighted the theme of the forum in his welcoming speech:"Japan and China, the world's third and second biggest economy respectively, areeconomically interdep
endent. China has been Japan's largest trading partner since 2007 andJapan is China's second largest
sources of foreign direct investment, second only to Hong Kong.

"We need each other not only for development but for our verysurvival. There will be no winner in a tradewar, let alone militaryconflict, between Japan and China. Therefore, it is of fundamentalimportance forJapan and China to prevent political disaccord fromspilling over into economics and other fields. This
points to theimportance of our dialogue on topics such as the environment and energy."
In January, Beijing and other Chinese cities suffered from serious airpollution with consequences for heal
th and public transport. Airpollution in Japan is better controlled. Professor Hirono mentioned thatJapan
had a similar experience with environmental degradation in the1950s and through to the 70s. It took thatlong to provide cleaner air,water and soil essential to ensuring public health, he said. That was done by
way of economic incentives and regulations as well as publiccampaigns promoting environmental
awareness.
Given the importance now accorded to bodies including environmentalNGOs in China, he voiced hisoptimism about China's pollutionproblems being resolved in the near future.
Japan, with its experience, could help China, he said. Such help could come through the likesof theJapan Forum for International Relations and the World Resources Institute, which arewell positioned tofacilitate such non-governmental exchanges， he said.
The dialogue clearly generated positive energy and the extra will to help ease the politicalstandoff. Politic
ians obviously make their decisions taking heed of the will of the public at large,and creating a positive atmosphere in which decisions can be made – such as through thisdialogue in Tokyo – can play a crucialpart in that.
The academics present bear the burden of keeping open minds onculture, economics, and social anduniversal values as a way ofpromoting a peaceful resolution to conflicts. The challenges are great,but
any fruit born of the efforts to solve those challenges will begreater still.
Both sides agreed that working together and keeping the peace was ifthe utmost importance, and the forum closed with a warm round ofapplause.
Zhao Qizheng, the founder of Shanghai Pudong area and thenMinister of State Council, Information
Office, currently holding the titleof chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission of Chinese People'sPolitical
Consultative Conference, once said that "as long as there iscommunication, there is a chance for goodthings to happen. In thatregard, people- to-people talk is of great importance".
As I left Tokyo, thick fog enveloped the airport, but as we departed theland of the rising sun, the sun was
doing just that. The low cloud couldnot compete with this brilliance.......
(Jiao Xiaoli is a senior public relations officer and free lance writer of China Daily.)［3 月 5 日付『チャイナ・デーリー』電子版より転載］