Cherish rekindled relations

During Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono's visit to Beijing on the weekend, the first since he assumed the office in August, the two countries agreed on the important role that high-level exchanges can play in improving and developing bilateral ties, and to work together to create a suitable atmosphere to convene a summit for the leaders of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea at an early date.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two neighbors, and it should be seized as an opportunity to thaw relations.

That Kono pledged that Japan will abide by the principles of the 1972 joint communiqu�� that normalized relations between the two countries, and said Japan will also properly deal with issues related to the Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, indicates that Japan is seeking to get bilateral ties back on track.