The Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum proposed Wednesday that the future of Asia should be closely watched.

"The forum should not only discuss the issues concerning China-Japan relations, but show sufficient concern for the future of Asia", said a joint statement released at the plenary meeting towards the conclusion of the forum.

The subject of Asia's future, which has been brought forward this time, will be fully discussed at the next forum to be held in Beijing, it said.

The co-sponsors of the forum have reached a consensus that the Beijing-Tokyo Forum, now being held for the exchange of views and ideas on bilateral ties, should be developed into an Asia- and world-oriented dialogue platform, said the statement, calling on both sides to strive for this goal.

Prior to the release of the statement, Liu Hongcai, deputy chief of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee delivered a speech at the plenary meeting after talking to members of Japan's major political parties during the forum.

He said personages from Japan's political parties are of the opinion that whatever Japan's political situation turns, the general trend of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations will not be reversed.

"Whoever becomes Japan's prime minister, the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan must persist," said Liu.

"This has basically become the consensus among the populace as well as Japanese government leaders and politicians," he said.

The Fourth Beijing-Tokyo Forum closed at midday Wednesday. The gathering, which opened with a dinner party late Monday, had two plenary meetings and seven panel dialogues during the following two day's official sessions.

Present at the three-day forum are some 110 personages from various circles of both countries.

The annual forum, co-sponsored by the China Daily and the non-profit Japanese organization Genron NPO, is held alternately in Beijing and Tokyo. The first Beijing-Tokyo Forum took place in Beijing in August 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2008)