Participants pose for a group photo before the 11th Beijing-Tokyo Forum in Beijing, Oct 24, 2015.(Photo/people.cn)
The necessity and urgency of an increased collaboration between Beijing and Tokyo is more demanding than ever, and the two sides should take huge steps, Fukuda said.
"In particular, as for Japan and China, two major economic powers, it is ludicrous for them to be hostile to each other," Fukuda said.
Wei Jianguo, executive deputy director of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and former vice-minister of commerce, noted that the economic and trade ties between China and Japan have worsened for three consecutive years.
In the first eight months of this year, the Japanese investment in China has dropped by 28.8 percent compared with the same period of last year, and bilateral trade in between has dropped by 10.9 percent, Wei said.
But Wei said he is optimistic, and suggested Japan grab the chances brought by China's Belt and Road initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the high-speed railway market. Jiang Jianguo, minister of the State Council Information Office, has said that both sides "should always place priorities on eliminating the disturbances and damage imposed by various negative factors".
A "standoff could be easily triggered in the event of any indiscretion", as the two neighbors' profound history of exchanges is intertwined with sensitive historical and territorial issues, Jiang said, urging prudence to "guard against trouble making attempts by stand-alone forces, which are for their own interests", Jiang said.
