In an event facilitated by the China-Japan Friendship Associations, a group of university students from Japan paid a visit to China Friday and exchanged ideas with their counterparts here.

Japanese students visited two top universities in Beijing, attended lectures and discussed economic, environmental issues and other mutually interested topics, pointing to the many complementary aspects of the two countries and showing strong interest in working together for a better Asia. There was no mention of politics or bilateral relations.

While it is understandable that the organizers consciously avoided certain topics in Sino-Japanese relations, considering in particular the current territorial dispute over the Diaoyu Islands, such handling of the exchange may not be the best treatment for promoting mutual understanding.

Students mainly based their viewpoints and proposals on the one-sided picture they had before, and this made their arguments and ideas not convincing to each other. If they were better informed and take the whole picture in mind, got to know better the status quo of Sino-Japanese relations, and better still, learned the effects of their interactions, good and bad, their observations and proposals would be more impressive.

It is best to inform them of the complete picture of Sino-Japanese relations, starting from the ancient times to the contemporary era, including both good and bad times, the causes and effects, and the choices and possibilities. They need to see the bigger picture. As university students, they are supposed to make their own judgment and choose a future they deserve.

Reviewing history and bilateral relations doesn't mean criticizing or embarrassing each other. It is more about informing and educating than political or diplomatic struggle. As the university students today may enter any circle and profession tomorrow, more information and education now may help them make sound judgments later.

Otherwise, 20 years from now, they may still, like today, be talking about Sino-Japanese cooperation without really knowing how to make cooperation possible. Or they may even choose a harmful and dangerous future.

Against the background of the currently difficult Sino-Japanese relations, such exchange of young university students, the future leaders of their respective countries, provides a good opportunity for promoting mutual understanding. But unless we, as educators and friendship facilitators, really face up to history, this cannot be achieved.



The author is administrator of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Tsinghua University. qlliu@tsinghua.edu.cn