Bo Xilai: Wen´s visit to promote Sino-Japanese trade ties

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-10-2007 09:09

Wen Jiabao will conduct a three-day tour in Japan, the first of its kind by a Chinese premier in seven years Prior to the so-call " ice-melting" trip, China's Minister of Commerce, Bo Xilai, says Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Tokyo will play a crucial role in promoting trade between the two countries.

Trade volume between the two countries broke the 200 billion US dollar mark in 2006.

Japan is the second largest foreign investment in China. Its enterprises are eager to expand their business operations in the country.

Toyota is a good example. The company has established 17 joint ventures in China. It has also chosen the country as its first overseas base to produce environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles.

Hattori Etsuo, chief Rep. Toyota Auto, China office, said, "For Toyota, its status quo in the global market largely depends on whether its business can grow in China."

Last year, the sales of Toyota vehicles made in China reached over 300 thousand. Yet this figure only accounts for 4 percent of the Chinese auto market. In the next 10 years, China is expected to become the Japanese automaker's largest market in the world.

No wonder China's vast market is so coveted by Japanese firms.

Ryosuke Oshima, director Japan-China Econ. Assoc., said, "Our statistics show that 80 percent of Japanese enterprises in China have made -- and will increasingly make -- profit, particularly in the manufacturing sector."

But the growth is one-sided.

While the volume of Japan's exports to China reached over 15.5 percent last year, doubling previous year's figure, China saw a drastic decrease on exports to Japan. And it's mainly because Japan has set up difficult barriers for the importation of farm products from other countries, including China.

Bo Xilai said, "Problems arise when our fresh fruits, vegetables, and poultry products are exported to Japan. We hope the problem can be resolved via negotiations."

During his 3-day visit, Premier Wen Jiabao is expected to discuss with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, details on -- and fix a time and place for -- a new round of dialogues and high-level exchange programs on economic issues.

Bo Xilai said, "This new initiative will strengthen exchanges and push forward economic and trade cooperation between the two countries."

Premier Wen's trip is widely regarded as an "ice-melting visit." It will be the first official visit to Japan in six years by a top Chinese leader.

While there, the Chinese premier will also give a speech at the Japanese parliament, the first such honor for a Chinese leader in over two decades.

Editor:Du Xiaodan