Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Yohei Kono, Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives & Chairman of Japan's Association for the Promotion of International Trade (APIT), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing

On July 18, 2007, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met at the Great Hall of the People with a delegation of Japan's Association for the Promotion of International Trade (APIT) headed by its chairman Yohei Kono, who is also speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives.

Wen said China-Japan ties stood at a stage for improvement and development, calling on both sides to seize opportunities and make joint efforts to earnestly implement the censuses reached by both sides. He also urged both sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all areas and properly handle sensitive issues to step up strategic, mutually beneficial ties.

With China and Japan as two important economic entities, bilateral cooperation and common development were in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, said the Chinese premier. Beijing is going to hold the first meeting of the China-Japan high-level economic dialogue mechanism this autumn. Wen pointed out that both China and Japan are making good preparation for their first high-level economic dialogue, adding he believes the meeting could yield very positive results. He called on Japanese businesses to continue actively participating in China's economic construction and make new contributions to expanding China-Japan trade and economic cooperation.

Kono is in China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). CCPIT Chairman Wan Jifei, Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and other officials attended the meeting.