On 2 December, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai in Beijing with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, who is here for the first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue

Premier Wen Jiabao met with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and his entourage, who have come to China to attend the first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue, at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai on 2 December, 2007.

Wen expressed congratulations on the successful convening of the first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue, adding that China and Japan are important trading partners and their economic and trade cooperation is the basis for both sides to build the bilateral strategic and reciprocal relations. Wen said one of the functions of the China-Japan high-level economic dialogue mechanism is to exchange economic development strategies and macro-economic policies of the two countries. Its establishment is conducive to coordinating inter- department economic cooperation and exchanging views on issues to each other's key concerns in an aim to improve the level of the bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The premier hoped that both sides will make full use of the mechanism to map out a blueprint for bilateral cooperation and achieve sustained, stable and sound development of trade relations.

Wen also highlighted the current growth momentum of the Sino-Japanese relations. Next year will be the 30th anniversary of the signing of Sino-Japanese peace and friendship treaty and the two nations are facing good opportunities to further develop ties. Wen called on China and Japan to seize the opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and make joint efforts to achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence, maintaining friendship from generation to generation, conducting mutually beneficial cooperation, and carrying out common development.

Masahiko Komura first conveyed the cordial greetings from Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Hailing the first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue as successful, Masahiko Komura said Japan and China held a candid and comprehensive dialogue on macro-economic policy, energy conservation, environmental protection, trade and investment as well as international and regional economic issues. The dialogue, which has looked forward to the future and pushed the two countries' relations towards a new development stage, is of great significance. Japan will continue its efforts to advance the process of dialogue and further expand exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields in a bid to push forward the bilateral strategic and reciprocal relations, Masahiko Komura said.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan and other officials attended the meeting.

The China-Japan high-level economic dialogue mechanism has been established for the two governments to coordinate bilateral economic policies and cooperation. It is currently the highest level of dialogue mechanism between the two countries. The Chinese side's initiator was Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan whereas the Japanese side's initiator was Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiko Komura. When Premier Wen Jiabao visited Japan in April this year, he and then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe jointly chaired the meeting to start the China-Japan high-level economic dialogue mechanism. The current dialogue is the first meeting of the mechanism.