Beijing-Tokyo forum important 'first touch' for two govts

The first major meeting between Beijing and members of a new Japanese government, which will be elected on Sunday, is expected at a forum in November, organizers said yesterday.

Senior Chinese and Japanese officials are set to take part in the forum jointly held by China Daily newspaper and Genron NPO, a Japanese think tank similar to the American Council on Foreign Relations, said Yasushi Kudo, head of Genron NPO.

"The Beijing-Tokyo Forum may be the first opportunity for interaction between the two governments, and the first diplomatic activity that the new Japanese government attaches importance to," Kudo told a press conference announcing the release of a joint survey on Sino-Japanese relations sponsored by China Daily and Genron NPO.