Sino-Japanese ties

China and Japan are engaged in a "tug of war" over the Diaoyu Islands, and not surprisingly a comparison of their diplomatic lexicons presents a stark contrast. China has always approached the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands from the overall perspective of Sino-Japanese relations, while Japanese politicians have tended to be myopic and reckless.

Since the dispute resurfaced in early September, high-ranking Chinese officials, including Premier Wen Jiabao and foreign ministry officials, have not made any remarks without mentioning the importance of bilateral ties. The latest remarks of Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue proves that once again.

Commenting on Wen's participation in the upcoming series of meetings of East Asian leaders in Hanoi, Vietnam, Hu said China was serious about its relationship with Japan because the two countries are important for each other. Moreover, he did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Wen and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Hanoi, provided that the conditions and atmosphere were proper.