Better China-Japan ties shot in the arm for regional cooperation

ALTHOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Tokyo last week has brought the estranged relations between China and Japan back onto the right track, Li's visit, the first by a Chinese premier in eight years, was of practical importance in helping the two countries begin to rebuild their long lost mutual trust. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

In his speech marking the 40th anniversary of the China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty, Li expressed his anticipation that the two countries will advance their cooperation by taking advantage of the the opportunity presented by the progress that has been made toward resolving the Korean Peninsula situation.

The consensus reached at the summit of the three countries on advancing their economic cooperation paves the way to push forward their long-anticipated trilateral free trade agreement, which will also give a shot in the arm to efforts to promote the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.