A seminar on Sino-Japanese relations and a new order in the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century sponsored by the Xinhua News Agency and Yomiuri Shimbun was held in Beijing on December 6.

More than 100 scholars and experts from China and Japan including Zhu Liang, vice-president of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and former head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, as well as Nakayama Taro, a member of the Japanese House of Representatives and former foreign minister.

In his speech, Zhu said good Sino-Japanese relations are vital not only to the fundamental interests of both countries but to the future of the entire Asia, adding that it is China's consistent position to maintain and develop its friendly relations with Japan.

Nakayama Taro said peace and stability are the essential conditions for Asia's prosperity. In spite of wide differences in their politics and economics, the Asian nations all require stability and development, and so both governmental and non- governmental dialogues and cooperation are important venues for achieving stability and development.

Participants held wide-ranging, in-depth discussions on Sino- Japanese relations and bilateral cooperation, as well as economic cooperation among the nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

This is the first seminar held jointly by the Xinhua News Agency and Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan's most influential news organizations. (Xinhua)