Background: China-Japan relations evolve

President Hu Jintao's official visit to Japan is seen as a step forward as the Asian neighbors develop a strategic partnership. Let's look at how their bilateral ties have evolved.

The first handshake between leaders of China and Japan was in 1972 when Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations were normalized. Bilateral ties have since experienced a number of highs and lows.

Relations turned sour during the tenure of then Japanese leader Junichiro Koizumi from 2001 to 2006, when he repeatedly visited Yasukuni Shrine that honors Japan's war criminals of World War Two.

Relations began to thaw when Shinzo Abe became Japan's Prime Minister in September 2006. He visited China just weeks after he took office, which was seen as a window of hope for bilateral ties.

After Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's official visit to Japan in April 2007, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda paid a 4-day visit to China in December, just 3 months after he was appointed.

Liu Jiangyong, Professor of Tsinghua University said "President Hu Jintao's visit to Japan this time coincides with the 30th anniversary of the signing of Sino-Japanese peace and friendship treaty. And in the past 30 years, the two countries' cooperation in various fields has achieved profound development. The cooperation has demonstrated in fields from trade and economy, politics, resources, to climate change and national defense. So President Hu's visit will see a better plan for future development of bilateral ties."

Through a series of high level visits by leaders of the two governments, mutual understanding has been enhanced and relations between the two countries have entered an important period of improvement and development.

But the two sides still have frictions that cannot be solved immediately, such as a history textbook problem and disputes over exploration in the East China Sea. Despite of this, analysts say the momentum of high-level dialogue indicates their sincerity to find solutions.

Liu Jiangyong said "The problems residing in Sino-Japanese relations cannot be solved by just one visit or one diplomatic act, but we could seek a reasonable handling under the overall development of bilateral ties. The current situation of Sino-Japanese relations can be described as 'ascending the hills', that means it's by overcoming obstacles that we seek development."

Sino-Japanese relations are at a important stage of development. The year 2007 witnessed optimistic signs of enhanced trust between the two countries.

Experts say 2008 will see an increase in bilateral ties. President Hu Jintao's landmark visit to Japan will draft a blueprint for future development of Sino-Japanese relations.