駐日大使孔鉉佑：日方應在歷史、台灣問題上不逾矩不越線

3月7日，第十三屆全國政協委員、駐日本大使孔鉉佑在中國國際電視台（CGTN）《決策者》欄目發表題為《紀念邦交正常化50週年 ，開創中日關係新前景》的署名文章，回顧總結中日邦交正常化帶來的歷史啓示，並就兩國關係未來發展全面闡述中方政策主張。中英文全文如下：

今年是中日邦交正常化50週年，這是中日關係發展史上的重要里程碑。50年前，兩國老一輩領導人以高超的戰略智慧和非凡的政治勇氣，作出邦交正常化的重大決斷，徹底結束了中日戰後對立隔絕，開啓了和平友好合作的新篇章，也對地區乃至世界歷史進程產生深遠影響。

中日關係歷經半個世紀風雨，兩國各領域交流合作實現質的飛躍，雙邊貿易額創下3714億美元歷史新高，疫情前人員往來達到每年1200萬人次，地方友城260餘對。兩國利益融合如此廣泛而緊密，早已成為相互依存的發展共同體。雙方要珍惜和維護中日關係來之不易的發展成就，也要從中汲取照亮未來的智慧。

歷史啓示我們，政治體制、社會制度、意識形態差異不應成為國與國交往的障礙。50年前，兩國老一輩領導人本着相互尊重、求同存異的精神，超越差異，在冷戰環境下實現邦交正常化，樹立了不同陣營國家和平共處、友好交往的典範。雙方在1972年《中日聯合聲明》中明確寫入，“中日兩國儘管社會制度不同，應該而且可以建立和平友好關係。”50年後的今天，雙方沒有理由做不到這一點。

歷史啓示我們，和平、友好、合作始終是雙方必須牢牢把握的正確方向。中日兩國在邦交正常化之初，就宣示“建立兩國間持久的和平友好關係”。《中日和平友好條約》的簽訂，以法律形式明確了雙方共謀和平友好的履約義務。雙方還確立了中日戰略互惠關係的定位，達成了“互為合作伙伴、互不構成威脅”等一系列重要共識。無論國際形勢如何變化，雙方堅持和平、友好、合作的大方向不應有絲毫動搖。

歷史啓示我們，中日四個政治文件及雙方共識必須得到不折不扣履行。邦交正常化以來，雙方達成四個政治文件，形成一系列重要共識，為處理歷史、台灣等重大原則問題及釣魚島、涉海等敏感問題立下了規矩。這是兩國政府之間做出的鄭重承諾，也是確保中日關係行穩致遠的根本保障，不容任何挑戰。

當前中日關係形勢依然複雜嚴峻，新老問題交織凸顯，處在不進則退的關鍵路口。雙方要抓住邦交正常化50週年重要契機，維護好、鞏固好、發展好兩國關係，將構建契合新時代要求的中日關係的政治共識轉化為現實，這是時代賦予雙方的歷史使命。

首先要堅持相互尊重，妥處彼此差異。相互尊重是建立互信的前提基礎，也是國與國交往的基本禮儀。雙方要做到平等相待，互釋善意誠意，包容彼此政治體制、社會制度、價值觀等差異，尊重對方自主選擇的發展道路，恪守互不干涉內政等國際關係基本準則，反對以價值觀劃線、煽動意識形態對立。

二是堅持重信守諾，管控矛盾分歧。中日作為鄰國，難免存在一些問題和分歧，關鍵在於如何管控。中方始終堅決維護自身主權、安全、發展利益，同時願與日方一道，按照中日四個政治文件原則及有關共識，有效管控矛盾分歧，防止干擾兩國關係大局。日方應在歷史、台灣等重大原則問題上信守承諾，切實做到不逾矩、不越線，維護兩國關係政治基礎。

三是堅持合作共贏，做大共同利益。中國進入新發展階段，中國的高質量發展、高水平開放將為包括日本在內世界各國帶來更多機遇。中日兩國要高舉合作共贏旗幟，積極推進各領域務實合作，提升合作質量水平，為兩國關係注入正能量。我們希望日方在對華合作中展現更加自信、開放、包容姿態，不要被渲染中日競爭對抗、鼓吹對華遏制的消極論調帶偏方向。

四是堅持友好傳統，夯實民意根基。民間友好是中日關係的優良傳統和寶貴財富。雙方要廣泛開展人文交流和民間、地方交往，推動兩國民眾增進相互理解，深化民心相通。中日關係的未來在年輕一代，雙方要重點加強青少年交流，吸引更多年輕人關心中日關係，讓中日友好事業薪火相傳。

五是堅持多邊主義，履行國際責任。當前新冠疫情延宕不絕，全球性挑戰層出不窮，世界進入新一輪動盪變革期。中日兩國都應踐行真正的多邊主義，從國際社會整體利益出發，保持戰略自主，共同為維護地區以及世界的和平穩定、團結合作、發展繁榮發揮重要積極作用。

站在邦交正常化50週年的新起點，相信雙方一定有足夠的勇氣和智慧，克服困難，把握機遇，開創新時代中日關係美好前景，將一個更加成熟穩定的中日關係帶入下一個50年，這是對邦交正常化50週年最好的紀念。

China-Japan ties at 50: A new chapter opened for bilateral relations

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, an important milestone in the history of China-Japan relations. Fifty years ago, with superb strategic wisdom and extraordinary political courage, the leaders of the older generation on both sides made a major decision to normalize diplomatic relations, completely ending the post-war confrontation and isolation between the two countries, and opening a new chapter of peace, friendship and cooperation. It has a profound impact on the course of the history of the region and even the world.

After half a century of ups and downs in the China-Japan relations, the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields have achieved substantive progress, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of $371.4 billion, 12 million pre-pandemic mutual visits every year, and more than 260 pairs of sister cities. The two countries’ interests are so broadly and closely integrated that they have long become an interdependent community of development. Both sides should cherish and hold fast to the hard-won development achievements of China-Japan relations and also draw wisdom from them to light up the path toward the future.

History has taught us that differences in political systems, social systems, and ideologies should not be an obstacle to state-to-state relations. Fifty years ago, in the spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while keeping differences, the leaders of the older generation on both sides went beyond their differences and normalized bilateral diplomatic relations in the context of the Cold War, setting an example of peaceful coexistence and friendly interaction between countries of different camps. It’s clearly written in the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement that “in spite of the differences in their social systems, China and Japan should and can establish peaceful and friendly relations.” Today, 50 years later, there is no reason why the two sides cannot do so.

History has taught us that peace, friendship and cooperation always represent the right direction that both sides should head in. At the very beginning of the normalization of diplomatic ties, China and Japan declared that they would “establish lasting peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries.” The signing of The China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship has clarified in legal form the obligation of both sides to work together for peace and friendship. The two sides also established a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship and reached a series of important consensuses, including “being cooperative partners and not posing a threat to each other.” No matter how the international situation changes, the two sides should not waver in following the general direction of peace, friendship and cooperation.

History has taught us that the four political documents between China and Japan must be fulfilled without compromise. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations, the two sides have signed four political documents and formed a series of important consensuses, which have laid down rules for dealing with major issues of principle such as history and Taiwan region, as well as sensitive issues such as the Diaoyu Islands and the East China Sea. This is a solemn commitment made between the two governments and a fundamental guarantee to ensure that China-Japan relations will continue to develop steadily and will not be challenged in any way.

The current situation facing China-Japan relations remains complex and challenging, featuring both old and new issues, and is at a critical juncture where both countries either forge ahead or drift downstream. The two countries should seize the important opportunities presented by the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations to maintain, consolidate and develop bilateral relations, and translate the political consensus on building China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era into a reality. This is the historical mission entrusted to both sides by the times.

First of all, both countries must uphold the principle of mutual respect and properly handle differences. Mutual respect is the premise and foundation for building mutual trust, and it is also the basic etiquette in state-to-state interactions. Both sides should treat each other as equals, show goodwill and sincerity, accommodate differences in each other’s political systems, social systems and values, respect each other’s independent choice of development path, adhere to basic norms of international relations such as non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and oppose the use of values as a pretext to draw lines and incite ideological confrontation.

Second, both countries must keep promises and manage conflicts and differences. As neighbors, China and Japan inevitably have some problems and differences, but the key lies in how to manage them. China has always been determined to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. At the same time, China is willing to work with Japan to effectively manage conflicts and differences in accordance with the principles of the four political documents and relevant consensuses, so as to prevent disruptions to the big picture of bilateral relations. The Japanese side should keep its commitments on major issues of principle, such as history and Taiwan, and refrain from overstepping and crossing the line so as to maintain the political foundation of bilateral relations.

Third, both countries must seek mutually beneficial cooperation and expand common interests. As China enters a new stage of development, its high-quality development and high-level opening-up will bring more opportunities for all countries in the world, including Japan. China and Japan should hold high the banner of mutually beneficial cooperation, promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields, improve the quality of cooperation, and inject positive energy into the bilateral relations. We hope that the Japanese side will demonstrate a more confident, open and accommodating stance in its cooperation with China and will not be led astray by negative rhetoric that exaggerates the competition and confrontation between China and Japan and calls for containment of China.

Fourth, both countries must stick to the tradition of friendship and establish favorable public opinions toward each other. People-to-people friendship is a fine tradition and valuable asset of China-Japan relations. Both sides should carry out extensive people-to-people and sub-national exchanges to promote mutual understanding and deepen the bonds between the people of the two countries. The future of China-Japan relations lies with the younger generation. Both sides should focus on strengthening youth exchanges and attracting more young people to take an interest in the bilateral relations so that the cause of promoting China-Japan friendship can be passed on from generation to generation.

Fifth, both countries must uphold multilateralism and fulfill international responsibilities. At present, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and global challenges abound, the world has entered a new round of turbulent changes. Both China and Japan should practice genuine multilateralism, act in the interests of the international community, maintain strategic autonomy, and jointly play an important and positive role in maintaining peace and stability, solidarity and cooperation, and development and prosperity in the region as well as in the world.

Standing at the new starting point of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, I believe that both sides will have enough courage and wisdom to overcome difficulties, seize opportunities to usher in a new era of better China-Japan relations and bring a more mature and stable China-Japan relationship into the next 50 years, which is the best way of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.