Chinese hold dim view of Japan
25/8/2005 7:50
A poll issued in Beijing on Tuesday showed 62.9 percent of Chinese
respondents had a "very bad" or "not very good" impression of Japan, while 37.9
percent of Japanese respondents had a "very bad" or "not very good" impression
of China.
It's the first time the Chinese and Japanese media, academic
experts and non-government organizations jointly conducted a survey on
China-Japan relations simultaneously in the two countries.
The survey result
was released at the first Beijing-Tokyo forum, which opened in Beijing on
Tuesday.
According to poll organizers, despite the negative impression of
Japan, Chinese people are still rational about China-Japan economic relations
and bilateral cooperation in regional affairs.
About 65 percent of Chinese
respondents said economic relations between the two countries benefit both
sides, and 59 percent "firmly support" or "support" China-Japan cooperation on
regional issues.
The survey in Japan shows few respondents regard Japan-China
relations as more important than Japan-US relations. About 59.9 percent of
Japanese respondents think Japan-China relations should be further promoted on
the basis of the development of Japan-US relations.
The organizers did not
disclose how many questionnaires were distributed. The Chinese side received
1,938 replies while Japan received 1,000.
In a speech at the forum, Zhao
Qizheng, vice chairman of the Subcommittee of Foreign Affairs of the National
Committee of China's top advisory body, said China and Japan enjoy favorable
conditions for improving bilateral ties.
The two sides boast a friendship of
more than 2,000 years in history with only 50 years of hostilities, have
similarities in culture, and share common interests in the need for economic
development, security and peace.
Xinhua
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