On December 2, 2009, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with a delegation of Japan's Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT) headed by JAPIT Chairman Yohei Kono.

Yang spoke highly of the contributions by Kono and JAPIT to pushing forward the improvement and development of China-Japan relations and enhancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. He said economic and trade cooperation is an important driving force for the development of bilateral ties. Both sides should further tap potential to promote the recovery of trade cooperation to a level before the crisis as soon as possible and continuously expand cooperation in energy, environmental, high-tech and other new areas. Echoing Yang's views, Kono emphasized that JAPIT is ready to make greater efforts for deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.