Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda says it is time for politicians both in Japan and China to focus more on the bright side of bilateral ties to continue their nascent rapprochement.
"As we know from past experiences, political relations have a significant influence on how people in Japan and China view each other," Fukuda said in his keynote speech at a forum Saturday in Beijing attended by over 50 experts from the two countries.
"So, politicians in both countries should refrain from sending negative assessments of the other side," he added.