Abe's visit to China: Two cheers for Japan-China relations

THE visit last month by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China to mark the 40th anniversary of the signing of a treaty of peace and friendship by the two countries has been called a "historic turning point" heralding the beginning of a "new chapter" in the relationship. Maybe that's how it will turn out but, for now, it's too early to break out the champagne.

That's not to say that the visit didn't mark a notable step forward in Japan-China relations, it clearly did. For one thing, this was the first time Mr Abe had been invited to China on an official visit since he - and the Chinese leader Xi Jinping - assumed power in 2012.

Sino-Japanese relations hit rock bottom that year after the previous Japanese administration nationalised the Senkaku islands, which are also claimed by China as the Diaoyu, and anti-Japanese riots broke out across China.