Zhu Calls for Closer Sino-Japanese Economic, Trade TiesVisiting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji expressed the hope Friday that Japan and China will actively explore new ways of and new fields for cooperation so as to push bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a new high.At a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshiro Mori, in Tokyo, Zhu said that economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan constitutes an important part of friendly cooperative bilateral relations. Zhu, who arrived here Thursday evening for a six-day official visit, hoped that his current visit would help enhance mutual understanding and dispel doubts politically, and help promote and expand mutually beneficial economic cooperation. The Japanese economy is recovering, the Chinese economy is experiencing a favorable turn and China is about to join the World Trade Organization, he said, adding that all these have provided a new opportunity for Sino-Japanese cooperation in economy and trade. The development of western China, high and new technology and environment protection may become key areas for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Japan in the future, he said. For his part, Mori said that the two countries should not only strengthen bilateral cooperation but also coordination to promote regional and global development. Japan fully understands the significance of developing China's western areas to the growth of China in the future, and will continue to facilitate Japanese enterprises to participate in the development process, he said. During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to hold an exhibition on the achievements of Sino-Japanese economic cooperation in China and organize other activities in the year 2002 to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations. They also rendered support to launching a program of non-governmental afforestation cooperation between the two countries. After his stay in Japan, Zhu will travel on to South Korea for a visit and a meeting of Asian and European leaders scheduled for October 20 in Seoul. |
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