Strategic experts from China, the US and Japan gathered in Beijing for the first time to discuss strategic issues concerning energy sources in the East China Sea during a two-day meeting that concluded Friday.  

The think tank talks focused on the strained relations between China and Japan and stressed the importance of eliminating differences between them and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Participants discussed how to promote mutual understanding and enhance cooperation through dialogues.

Among those present were Wu Jianmin, president of China Foreign Affairs University, Wang Jisi, dean of Peking University's School of International Studies, James Steinberg, former US deputy national security adviser, Jeffrey Bader, director of the China Initiative at the Brookings Institution, Koji Watanabe, senior fellow of Japan Center for International Exchange, and Yukio Okamoto, former special advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister.

The participants decided to convene this meeting in the wake of friction between China and Japan earlier this year. The proposal for the meeting originated in the Brookings Institution and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which proposed the gathering to Peking University's School of International Studies.

Sino-US think tank talks, which started in 1998, have been known as the "Second Channel Diplomacy," drawing important think tank agencies from both sides.

The organizers decided to hold another meeting in Japan in the first half of next year to continue their discussions. They hope these meetings will help deepen their mutual understanding and close gaps among the three countries.

The participants wish to make clear that views and recommendations they put forward during the meeting are not representing their governments.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2005)