Japan is an important neighbor of China. The China-Japan relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships for both sides.

The following is a brief introduction to the major issues in China-Japan relations over the past 40 years:

1970s - Normalization of Sino-Japanese Relations

On October 2, 1971, China put forward "the Three Principles on the Restoration of Sino-Japanese Diplomatic Relations":

(1) The People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China;

(2) Taiwan is an inalienable part of territory of the People's Republic of China;

(3) "Peace Treaty" between Japan and Chiang Kai-shek authorities is illegal and it must be abrogated.

On September 25, 1972, Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka visited China.

On September 29, 1972, both the Chinese and Japanese governments issued the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement (中日聯(lián)合聲明), restoring the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On February 5, 1973, China and Japan agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations. The Japanese Embassy in China and Chinese Embassy in Japan were established in February.

On January 3, 1974, a three-year trade agreement - the first of several working agreements covering trade, shipping, aviation, and fisheries - was signed.

On August 12, 1978, China and Japan signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship（中日和平友好條約).

On October 22, 1978, Chinese Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping visited Japan. On October 23, China and Japan exchanged documents of ratification of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

On December 5, 1979, Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira visited China and committed to providing the first batch of Japanese government loans to China.