It is right to point out that whatever problems arise between China and Japan, they are not the whole of relations between the two, as they are close neighbors with profound common interests, as well as shared responsibilities, in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

But, although they disagreed on the causes, participants at the Ninth Beijing-Tokyo Forum agreed on the effect - Sino-Japanese relations are in danger and need sensible crisis management.

A non-governmental platform dedicated to people-to-people communication between the two countries - co-sponsored by the Japanese think tank Genron NPO and China Daily - the forum found its latest session permeated with dismay over the coldness between Beijing and Tokyo.