At the invitation of the Japan Foundation, Prof. Ji Guoxing, Director of Maritime Security Studies Program of our Center, along with Dr. Gong Yingchun of China Foreign Affairs University and Dr. Jin Yongming of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, paid an academic visit to Tokyo and Okinawa on Nov. 15-22, 2009. They exchanged ideas with relevant Japanese scholars and experts on the maritime delimitation issue and joint development of oil and gas resources in the East China Sea. Both sides have agreed that the increase of mutual trust and the narrowing of divergence are of significance to make the East China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation.