On the afternoon of April 14, Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng met with a delegation of Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT) headed by its chairman Yohei Kono.

Gao congratulated the JAPIT on its 60th anniversary of establishment, and spoke highly of the association’s efforts in promoting China-Japan relations and bilateral economic and trade cooperation for a long time. He said that the present achievements in China-Japan economic and trade development owe much to the concerted efforts by the predecessors in economic circles of the two countries including the JAPIT’s previous chairpersons. It is worthwhile for both sides to cherish. In the face of the difficult situation of bilateral political relations, both sides need to positively push forward economic and trade cooperation and lay the foundation of improving bilateral relations. China will continue to render support to the two countries’ enterprises and local areas to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation.

Yohei Kono expressed gratitude to China’s Ministry of Commerce for the continuous support of the JAPIT. He said that in spite of the current difficulties, Japan’s economic circles still hope to expand and strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation with mutual benefit. The association would pass on the positive information of Chinese government’s encouragement and support of bilateral economic and trade cooperation to Japan’s economic circles, and is ready to continue promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
　　
In addition, the minister talked about the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone as required.