The 21st Century Committee for Japan-China Friendship held its 14th meeting on China's Hainan Island Dec. 24-25, and I was among those present. Former Chinese Ambassador to Japan Yang Zhenya, the conference chairman, said he was pleased that the Chinese and Japanese governments were promoting regional cooperation in East Asia. He expressed hope that the two countries' efforts would produce positive results as soon as possible.

The committee, established in 1984 under an agreement between Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, is made up of intellectuals from both countries. It meets annually to work out proposals on ways to expand bilateral relations, which it later presents to both governments.

At the December meeting, Chinese delegates expressed strong concern over the contents of history textbooks that were under review by the Education Ministry for use in Japanese schools. The Chinese obsession with wartime history has exacerbated anti-Chinese sentiment in Japan and destabilized bilateral relations.