Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi arrived in Japan on Tuesday for a two-day visit, where he engaged with Shotaro Yachi, the National Security Advisor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It is believed that Yang's visit, the first since he assumed office, will help improve Sino-Japanese relations through high-level dialogue.

Tokyo expects a full restoration of high-level exchanges, but it can't help, paradoxically, doing or saying something detrimental to bilateral relations.

Japan was the first country that entered into modernity in Asia, and it still prevails over the others in its level of development. Japan's history of rising is notorious in parts, and it has also received severe punishment. The ups and downs have left quite a lot of negative influence on the Japanese, who are not as open-minded as their European and American counterparts in the developed world.

China's rise has dramatically changed Japan's geopolitical environment. It will require a challenging reset to the mentality of the Japanese, who might have the most uncomfortable feeling about China's rise.

Seeing that the opponents that were once Japan's victims stand up once more while it is troubled by an aging society and a sluggish economy, Japan is anxious and upset. It has found an outlet for its feelings in wrangling with China. But for China, the row is unnecessary, and cannot produce any strategic significance to its development. China should try its best to keep a good relationship with Japan, and avoid making it an enemy, in case it turns into a distraction.

The ideal scenario doesn't always happen. Sometimes, we have to take countermeasures, a cost we have to pay for insisting on principles. A lot of Chinese hope their country can be tough on Japan.

This mind-set should be readjusted. They must know that the strength of a major power is not always displayed in hard power, but in many cases through softer approaches which are wiser and more skillful.

China doesn't need an aggressive approach to show a grave and dignified bearing, because sticking to its own pace in development is enough to be awe-inspiring.

If some Chinese are still easily angered by Japan's tricks, it is we that should search our souls.

Japan is part of China's comprehensive diplomacy, and only professionals can manage it well.

Chinese civil groups should be more confident with the government, and let the diplomats do their job, so that our Japan policy can be professional and effective.

We should understand the difficulty of the current Sino-Japanese relations. We don't have to nurture so much "hatred" for this neighbor, but we need to find the key to changing its ambivalent attitude toward China.