On April 24, 2012, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with members of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade delegation, including Kono Yohei, the delegation head and a former House of Representatives Speaker.

Speaking in the Great Hall of the People, Xi commended the association's contributions to promoting the two countries' economic and trade cooperation and overall bilateral relations. He said the China-Japan relationship has withstood many tests but made great progress since the normalization of diplomatic ties 40 years ago. Therefore, it is worth treasuring and carefully nourishing the relations built through the efforts of several generations, Xi said. As countries with important influence in Asia and the world, China and Japan should keep up with the developing global situation, further enhance political trust, broaden pragmatic cooperation, expand cultural exchange, properly handle sensitive issues and jointly develop the China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship in a healthy and stable way.

Xi pointed out that China is actively implementing its 12th five-year plan, accelerating the transformation of economic development modes and striving to achieve a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable growth. Japan is under reconstruction after a period of disaster but has an advantage in energy efficiency, environmental protection, green economy, and high technology while China has a huge market for them, he said, stressing the two sides' complementary natures under the new situation. The two countries should broaden economic and trade cooperation, aiming more vigorously to expand common interest and push forward their economic ties, said Xi.

Kono Yohei said no matter what changes take place in the situation, the two countries should keep the general direction of Japan-China friendship, focus on the overall situation and further develop bilateral relations. He said the two sides should stress cooperation in finance and intellectual property rights in accordance with the current needs in the two countries' economic and trade cooperation.

The Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade delegation is visiting China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.