Trade ties improve despite tension

Despite the stalemate in political ties between China and Japan, economic relations of the two Asian economies have improved this year compared with the second half of last year, with a pickup in bilateral trade and increased business and non-governmental connections, experts said.

"The economic ties between China and Japan are improving compared with the second half of last year. Business connections between the two sides are strengthening with increased entrepreneurial and people-to-people communications," said Li Guanghui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a government think tank.

"Mutual demand for each other's markets are the basis and the two economies share high interdependency. Businesses from the two countries have strong willingness for cooperation," Li said after a recent visit to Japan with a business delegation.