What Japan needs the most as it emerges from the Lower House election is a more stable political leadership, after having six prime ministers in as many years, so that it can tackle mounting domestic challenges and manage its shaky ties with neighboring countries.
China, under the new leadership chosen at the Communist Party Congress in November, will continue to prioritize economic growth, keeping political reforms on the back burner. But China will face increasing difficulties in maintaining the rapid growth of the past decade.
These were among the topics discussed by experts from Japan, the United States, South Korea and Hong Kong during a symposium organized in Tokyo on Nov. 28 by The Brookings Institution and the Japan Center for Economic Research in cooperation with the Keizai Koho Center.