Nation set to strengthen cooperation with Japan

Healthy and stable China-Japan relations not only serve the interests of both countries and their peoples, but also benefit regional and global peace as well as stability and development, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday.

Li made the remark as he delivered a speech via video link at the eighth round of the Sino-Japanese Entrepreneurs and Former High-level Officials Dialogue. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Japan in all fields to better realize mutual benefits and win-win results, he said.

Saying that China and Japan are and will remain close neighbors, Li called on the two sides to be committed to peaceful and friendly coexistence and abide by the principles of the four China-Japan political documents.

The two sides should also respect each other, treat each other on an equal footing and jointly maintain a peaceful external environment and stable surroundings, he said.

In his speech, the premier also said that China will always be a large market and a promising destination for investment from the rest of the world, and welcomed all businesses from all nations to continue expanding their cooperation with China.

The dialogue came after President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Bangkok, Thailand, earlier this month. It was the first in-person meeting between the Chinese and Japanese leaders in three years.