Public opinion poll shows lessening effect of Diaoyu Islands dispute, but cloud remains, report Zhang Yunbi in Beijing and Cai Hong in Tokyo.

The impact of the Diaoyu Islands dispute on China-Japan ties is diminishing, but pessimism over future relations remains, the latest public opinion poll in both countries showed.

A majority of the public continued to see the significance of the relationship but "the proportion of such people is shrinking to a record low on both sides" - 65 percent of those polled in China and 70.6 percent in Japan.