Chinese Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng said Thursday that the promotion of Sino-Japanese trade relations helps the development of both countries, and will help increase mutual understanding between them.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Shoichiro Toyoda, president of the Japanese-Chinese Investment Promotion Council (JCIPC), who is in Xiamen for the fourth China Investment and Trade Fair to be held in the Xiamen Special Economic Zone in east China's coastal province of Fujian from September 8 to 12.

He said he hopes that the convening of the trade fair will enable the Japanese business people to have a better understanding of China's investment environment, and actively take part in the development program for western Chinese regions, so as to further promote Sino-Japanese economic and trade cooperation.

The minister added that the economic globalization is moving forward, and the global economy is getting better, while the Asian economy has rebounded, saying that China's economy has maintained a good development momentum, and the process of its entry into the World Trade Organization has entered final stage, therefore, it is of significance to convene such an event at this moment.

"Both sides should value their friendship and cooperation, and advance economic and trade relations," he said.

Toyoda said that he is leading the largest ever trade promotion delegation, and he will learn more about business opportunities in China this time, and make more efforts to promote Sino-Japanese economic and trade cooperation.

(Xinhua 09/08/2000)