A diplomat on the front line

Ambassador to Japan still hopeful of reducing tension over islands

As diplomatic postings go, being China's ambassador to Japan in recent months was not the easiest position, but tension over the Diaoyu Islands never diminished Cheng Yonghua's determination to address and solve the crisis.

Both countries have kept channels of communication open "despite the atmosphere being sometimes not so friendly," Cheng said diplomatically, mustering the experience of a veteran who has been working in Japan for more than two decades.