Sino-Japanese ties not to be affected after DPJ assumes reins of government: experts

TOKYO, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) scored an overwhelming victory over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Sunday in the historic lower house election. At a time when Japan's political scene is undergoing sweeping changes, experts say that China-Japan relations are not likely to be affected after the DPJ assumes reins of government.

Japan's foreign policy is to undergo a series of adjustments following the DPJ's ascendancy, but Zhu Jianrong, a professor of humanities at Toyo Gakuen University, said that the general trend for bilateral ties will not change.

"As far as economy and trade are concerned, China and Japan are among the closest partners in the world, and they need each other," said Zhu.

Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis which took a heavy toll on the Japanese economy, the 4,000 billion yuan stimulus package offered by the Chinese government has boosted China's domestic demand and expanded its imports. And the move, in turn, benefited Japan, said Zhu.

"It is acknowledged in Japan's economic circles that the recent pickup in the Japanese economy is due to its exports to China," he said, adding that Japan has realized that it is economically dependent on China and fostering close ties with China is in its interests.

"Knowing that this standpoint dominates the mainstream Japanese society, I believe that the general situation of China-Japan relations will not change," said the professor.

"Basically, bilateral ties hinge on China's development," Zhu noted.

As long as China continues to pursue the policy of reform and opening up and become a steadfast force for safeguarding regional peace and stability as well as that of the world, bilateral ties will continuously move forward, he said.