[Explanation] On October 20, 2021, the results of the 17th Beijing-Tokyo Forum "Sino-Japanese Relations Public Opinion Survey" jointly implemented by the China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau and the Japanese NPO will be released online in Beijing and Tokyo.

Gao Anming, deputy director and editor-in-chief of the China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau, introduced the investigation at the press conference.

　　[Concurrent] Gao Anming, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau

　　The public interviewees of the two countries have remained basically stable in their perceptions of each other's countries compared with last year, highly agree with the importance of the relationship between the two countries, and show a high degree of consistency in the principles and issues concerns of the two countries in regional cooperation and response to global challenges.

However, the deep influence of the three major issues of history, territory, and security is still prominent, and the volatility of Sino-US relations affecting Sino-Japanese relations has become more and more prominent.

　　[Explanation] The survey results show that the public respondents of the two countries have basically maintained their perceptions of each other’s country as last year, and the publics of the two countries highly agree on the importance of bilateral relations.

　　[Concurrent] Gao Anming, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau

　　From the Chinese perspective, “Japanese product quality is reliable”, “Japanese society is highly civilized”, and “Japan’s economically developed” are the main reasons why Chinese respondents have a better impression of Japan. In the eyes of Japanese public respondents, they “like China "History, culture, food and cultural works", "Non-governmental exchange activities bring each other closer", "China's economy has developed significantly and people's lives have been improving" are the main reasons why Japanese respondents have a better impression of China.

　　[Explanation] The public interviewees of the two countries have shown a high degree of consistency in the principles and issues concerns for strengthening bilateral coordination and coping with regional affairs and global challenges.

　　[Concurrent] Gao Anming, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau

　　With regard to global topics of particular concern, Chinese and Japanese interviewees focused on issues such as response to infectious diseases, climate change, and the gap between the rich and the poor.

72.6% of Chinese public respondents and 71.3% of Japanese public respondents believe that countries should cooperate in global epidemic prevention in the promotion of the new crown vaccine.

　　[Explanation] The results show that the three major issues of China-Japan history, territory, and security still have a prominent psychological impact on China-Japan relations.

　　[Concurrent] Gao Anming, Deputy Director and Editor-in-Chief of China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau

　　80.6% of Chinese public respondents and 56.4% of Japanese public respondents believe that historical issues are major issues in Sino-Japanese relations.

In the past ten years, the territorial dispute represented by the Diaoyu Islands issue has continued to be considered (and is) the most important issue hindering the relations between the two countries.

This year’s survey results show that 62.4% of Chinese public respondents and 56.7% of Japanese (public) respondents regard territorial disputes as the most important issue hindering the development of Sino-Japanese relations.

　　[Explanation] "Speech NPO" is a Japanese private non-profit organization engaged in policy evaluation and other businesses.

As an important part of the Beijing-Tokyo Forum, the simultaneous public opinion survey on China-Japan relations has been conducted annually since it was first implemented in 2005.

The 17th "Beijing-Tokyo Forum" will be held from October 25th to 26th in Beijing and Tokyo in the form of a combination of online and offline.

　　(Reported by reporter Shan Lu from Beijing)

Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]