Sino-Japanese Economic Ties: Chinese delegation visits Japan

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With Japan-China relations getting back right on track, a group of Chinese economists is visiting Japan for talks and various activities. They will meet scholars and representatives of the Japan Business Federation. CGTN's Zhu Dan reports from Tokyo.

Electronics, beauty products, cosmetics, these are some of the items Chinese tourists shop for most when they go to Japan.

February alone saw an estimated 2.6 million international travelers visit Japan, with Chinese tourists accounting for nearly 30%, according to Japan's National Tourism Organization.

And it's not just about tourism, but also high-end exchange activities.

Zhu Guangyao, former vice minister of China's Finance Ministry, is leading a delegation of economists to Japan, meeting officials and the Japanese Business Federation in Tokyo.

ZHU GUANGYAO FORMER VICE MINISTER, CHINESE FINANCE MINISTRY "I deeply feel Japanese people wish to deepen relations with China, particularly at that good turning point now based on guidance of two countries leaders' consensus."

Political relations between China and Japan have improved in recent years, as have the economic ties.

ZHU DAN TOKYO "According to the Standard International Trade Classification, maintained by the United Nations, the top export destination for Japan is China, and the top import origin of Japan is also China, showing that Japan and China's economic ties are bonded with each other."

Chinese business remains the key lifeline for the Japanese economy, where net exports have contributed exactly one-third of Japan's economic growth since the beginning of 2017.

According to the Japan External Trade Organization, trade volume between the two countries in 2017 increased 9.2%, exports to China went up 13.7%, and imports from China increased by 5%.

The two delegations also exchanged views on the upcoming G20 summit.

ZHU GUANGYAO FORMER VICE MINISTER, CHINESE FINANCE MINISTRY "The Japanese society contributes a lot of effort, not only in policy, but also logistical support for G20 delegations. Japanese friends told me that Japan warmly welcomes Xi Jinping to join Osaka G20 summit."

Sentiments echoed by Japanese scholars.

MASAHIRO KAWAI, PROJECT PROFESSOR GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, TOKYO UNIVERSITY "President Xi Jinping's participation in the G20 summit is very important. The two countries have had a robust political bilateral relationship since 2012, now their bilateral relationship is improving. I think that's going to be good for bilateral relationship and for Asia and the world."

The G20 Summit will be held in Osaka in June.

Zhu Dan, CGTN, Tokyo.