(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-01 19:40

China and Japan held their first high-level economic dialogue in Beijing on Saturday. [Xinhua]

China is willing to create sound conditions for Japanese firms to invest in China, Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said at the ongoing first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue held in Beijing on Saturday.

According to Zeng, four major problems exist in Sino-Japanese economic ties: a slowdown in the growth rate of bilateral trade, unsatisfactory business environment, obstacles in technological cooperation and fluctuations of Japanese investment in China.

China also hopes Japan considers China's concerns on the status of market economy, trade conditions, export of high and new technologies and personnel exchanges, he said.

"China and Japan share expanding mutual interests and new opportunities for cooperation under new historical conditions," said Zeng, who called for both sides to enhance economic and trade cooperation.

"We should create a new pattern of economic and trade cooperation, putting emphasis on both commodities and services," Zeng said.

The vice premier also urged the two sides to improve technological exchanges on energy-saving and environmental protection and work together more on global and regional economic issues.

"As the two biggest economies in Asia, China and Japan shoulder great responsibility for global economic stability and the prosperity of east Asia," Zeng said.

The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan and Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

The China-Japan high-level economic dialogue mechanism was jointly launched by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan during Wen's trip to Japan in April.

Japan is China's third largest trade partner and the second largest source of foreign direct investment.

China is Japan's largest trade partner and one of Japan's fastest growing export markets.

China and Japan held their first high-level economic dialogue in Beijing on Saturday. [Xinhua]