HONG KONG -- There are encouraging signs that both China and Japan are looking for ways to ease the prolonged deadlock between their two countries and improve relations -- an essential prerequisite to any strengthening of East Asian regional integration and the eventual emergence of an Asian community.
The most visible sign is the resumption by Japan of loans to China. Japan is offering $660 million to be used in 10 projects, involving environmental protection, human resources and education.
Loans to China, which started in 1979, were suspended last year amid rising tensions and violent anti-Japanese demonstrations in several cities in China.