"Forum Highlights Role of 'Public Diplomacy'" - China Daily, as posted to People's Daily Online website, 4 August 2006
A difference in understanding over history has created something of a wall between China and Japan, a barrier that experts and officials from both sides have been trying to break down at the Second Beijing-Tokyo Forum.
"What is really annoying is the 'wall' in people's minds," said Zhao Qizheng, vice-director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), yesterday on the first day of the two-day event.
"We are seriously discussing the China-Japan relationship in an attempt to find solutions to the problems it faces," said Zhao, former minister of the State Information Office. "We can move bilateral relations to a friendly track metre by metre."...
"Sino-Japanese relations are characterized by frosty political ties but active economic exchanges. The cold political wind will discourage economic co-operation," Zhao said.
He suggested that the two countries take advantage of the cultural dimension to push bilateral relations forward. Cultural contacts between the two peoples have long been an important part of China-Japan relations.
For example, more and more Chinese students are studying Japanese as their first foreign language.
Zhao therefore recommended that "public diplomacy" be developed as a new way to strengthen bilateral relations.
Defining public diplomacy, Zhao said it meant contacts between the two countries "beyond diplomatic channels."
"Public diplomacy can explore more channels for interaction between the two peoples. A better understanding between them will serve as a solid foundation for further development of political and economic relations," he said.
Zhao described the visit to China by the seven Japan-China friendship organizations based in Japan in March as a successful example of public diplomacy.
Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said a lot rests on exchanges between non-governmental organizations.
As the current misbalance of political and economic ties is so abnormal, consultations on an equal footing are needed to help solve problems, he said....
Surveys on China-Japan relations conducted simultaneously in the two countries early this year found that both Chinese and Japanese are well aware of the importance of contacts between the two countries.
More than 72 per cent of Japanese respondents and 92 per cent of Chinese surveyed spoke highly of the people-to-people contacts.
Nearly 13 per cent of Japanese respondents had been to China while only 1.2 per cent of the Chinese surveyed had visited Japan....
Added 15 August - also see:
"Cultural Exchange Way to Mend Sino-Japanese Ties," by Pavil Chachavalpongpun - the Star (Malaysia), 15 August 2006 (credited to The Nation / Asia News Network)
...Putting aside historical baggage and the bewildering factors contributing to the souring of ties [between Japanese and Chinese leaders], there have been attempts to defrost the icy relationship at the non-governmental level. Last week, Japan hosted the second Beijing-Tokyo Forum – a “track two” avenue where influential figures in politics, the media, business and culture came together to find solutions for improving Sino-Japanese ties.
The annual event, jointly organised by China Daily, Peking University and Japanese think-tank Genron NPO, moved to Tokyo this year after its first meeting in China in 2005. With the theme “Building a New Relationship Oriented to Asia,” the forum is open to ideas and proposals on removing the obstacles to better relations....
While resentment is mutually felt between Chinese and Japanese leaders, the Beijing-Tokyo Forum has emerged as a symbol of the common aspirations among the two countries' peoples. About 90 officials and scholars from China and Japan who participated in the event agreed that direct exchanges between both peoples are essential and will serve as a foundation to rebuild trust.
They were cautioned on the possibility that frosty political ties might hamper the two countries' vibrant economic efforts. A main recommendation was to take advantage of the cultural dimension to push bilateral relations forward. Indeed, cultural contact between the two peoples has long been an important element of Sino-Japanese relations.
For example, more Chinese students are studying Japanese as their first foreign language. The forum thus suggested that “public diplomacy” be developed as a new way to invigorate bilateral ties “beyond diplomatic channels,” such as exchanges between non-governmental organisations.
But regrettably, a recent survey showed that only 13% of Japanese respondents had been to China, while as little as 1.2% of the Chinese surveyed had visited Japan. Of all the respondents, about 43% of the Japanese chose not to visit China because of the poor relationship, and 60% of Chinese had no intention of travelling to Japan.
The Japanese government has now decided to invite 1,200 Chinese high school students to Japan this year to stay with local host families, to have the best possible experience of the country. Tokyo hopes that youth exchanges will help promote long-term friendship with China.
Despite this public diplomacy, many still doubt whether Chinese and Japanese leaders are serious about mending ties. Political obstacles and emotional stiffness remain powerful factors that could potentially overshadow efforts at the people-to-people level....
[T]his political tension is now being felt throughout the region. The battlefield is no longer limited to North-East Asia. Tension has led to intense competition between China and Japan, as reflected in their “business war” in South-East Asia, the fight for energy in the South China Sea and beyond, and the assertion of soft power to win allies, particularly among their Asean friends.
Thailand's decision to promote the Chinese language in its high schools has made Japan rather uncomfortable. Suddenly, Chinese teachers have arrived in Thailand in large numbers. Similarly, Sino-Myanmar energy cooperation has prodded Tokyo to forge ties with other Asean members, most notably Singapore, in the development of liquefied natural gas.
These examples show how Sino-Japanese rivalry can go far beyond its bilateral context. They also show that the work of track two diplomacy will have to be even more vigorous, given the cool relations at inter-governmental level.
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