The "two tigers" in the region can coexist as long as they make efforts to be friends with each other, said Akashi Yasushi, former United Nations undersecretary-general, on Monday.
Although a recent survey shows that people in China and Japan are suspicious of one another, journalists from both countries said they are optimistic about future relations.
Zhao Jiaqi, president of Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said Beijing hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Tokyo in a broad range of areas.
Japan will facilitate visits from more Chinese tourists and regard it an important base for mutual understanding, said Renhō, a member of the Upper House of the Diet of Japan.
Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, said China and Japan should deepen exchanges as China’s growth can provide historical opportunities to its neighbor.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan stayed away from the Yasukuni Shrine on Monday as Japan marked the 66th anniversary of its surrender in World War II.
Chinese and Japanese people lack direct knowledge of each other, according to a poll, and analysts say this indicates much can be gained by encouraging people-to-people exchanges.
There has been a sharp drop in the number of people in China and Japan harboring feelings of friendship toward the other country following a year of often turbulent relations, according to a poll conducted simultaneously in both countries.
Cementing China-Japan relations is of vital importance to the two countries but territory issues remain the largest obstacle for its development.
BEIJING - Though hundreds of kilometers apart, Tanjiaqiao Township and Fangzheng County have both slipped into controversy after netizens shamed residents of both regions for kowtowing to money and forgetting the humiliation China suffered during Japan's invasion of China in the 1930s and 1940s.
China and Japan called for global cooperation on Friday after a financial market rout signaled fear that Europe's debt crisis could spin out of control and the US economy may slide into another recession.
Though hundreds of miles apart, Tanjiaqiao township and Fangzheng county have both slipped into controversy after netizens shamed residents of both regions for kowtowing to money and forgetting the humiliation China suffered during Japan's invasion of China in the 1930s and 1940s.