China and Japan are important trading partners, and to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations is in the interest of both sides, Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday.

 

Wen made the remarks when meeting with a delegation from the Japan-China Economic Association, led by President Chihaya Akira and advisor Mitarai Fujio, who is also chairman of the Japan Business Federation.

 

The sustainable, sound and fast development of the Chinese economy and the opening-up to the outside world provides good opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in economy and trade, Wen said.

 

China welcomes Japanese businesses to actively participate in China's economic development and make new contributions to the development of China-Japan relations, he said.

 

Wen also called on the two countries to properly handle bilateral relations, saying the China-Japan relations are important for both sides, and the two sides should approach them from a strategic and long-term point of view.

 

He said China is willing to work with the Japanese side abiding by the principles of the three Sino-Japanese political documents, including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, continuing to adhere to the principle of taking history as a mirror and looking into the future and eliminating political obstacles as soon as possible, so the Sino-Japanese relations develop in a sound and stable way.

 

Chihaya Akira and Mitarai Fujio agreed with Wen by saying China and Japan have good opportunities in trade cooperation. They hope the two countries can exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation and push forward the bilateral trade relations.

 

They also called for the two countries to strengthen cooperation in such fields as environmental protection and energy conservation.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)