Cash-rich Chinese firms urged to take acquisition trail to Japan

Experts also pointed out that the Japanese government has committed itself to widespread economic investment in both reconstruction and economic development and post-earthquake, again providing excellent opportunities for cash-rich Chinese companies.

In July, the Japanese government also revealed its mid- to long-term growth strategy for the country, entitled "Japan Revitalization Strategy", targeting average annual growth of 3 percent until 2020, from last year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

The government will focus on a total of 38 policies in 11 key sectors, including environment, finance, medical, tourism and international trade.

"The Japanese market itself is not attractive for us, but we could certainly partner with our Japanese counterparts to seek new business opportunities for our engines worldwide, for instance," said Zhao from the CSR.

"Partnerships like those are win-wins for both sides."

Wei Jiafu, chairman of the board of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co, is of the same opinion.

"East and Northeast Asia are busy regions for shipping from all over the globe," he said.

"COSCO would certainly like to partner with Japanese counterparts to improve infrastructure in the region, in a bid to make the industry more efficient, more competitive, and more integrated."

Fifteen years ago, COSCO set up a joint venture with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, producing high-end ships, and in the same year, COSCO also joined K-Line, a major Japanese transportation company with two other companies to form the world's largest container transportation service alliance.

Akira Kojima, a member of the board of trustees of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies of Japan, said that China and Japan must "take the responsibility of boosting the Asian economy and expanding domestic consumption in Asia, through the marriage of their companies".

Bank of China has already announced plans to open a branch in Fukuoka, and increase its workforce in Japan to help Chinese major exporters and manufacturers with the financial services they need to operate successfully between the two countries.

The aim, said Xiao Gang, its chairman, is that Chinese companies "require commercial banks to provide more credible and convenient services overseas to satisfy client demand".

Since June 1, China and Japan have started direct trading of their currencies, the first time that China has allowed a major currency apart from the US dollar to trade directly with the yuan, in a move that is expected to boost their bilateral economic ties.

So far, transactions between the two currencies are "smooth and sound", according to Xiao, operating at an average daily volume of about 30 billion yen.