Leading Japanese automakers made record sales in China last year, including Nissan Motors, Honda Motors, Toyota Motors and Mazda Motors. So how are Japanese auto makers eyeing investment chances as China is removing foreign ownership restrictions? What details will they be looking out for in deciding on future strategy in China? Take a listen.

Japanese automakers welcomed the recent trilateral agreement between China, South Korea and Japan to accelerate trade talks. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, South Korean President Moon Jae-In and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed to accelerate free trade negotiations in a leaders' meeting on Tuesday. Japanese automakers enjoyed record sales in the Chinese market in 2017. Sales reached 4.8 million vehicles. Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda saw their highest sales. However, the Chinese market still holds even higher potential. Seeking to expand and introduce new products, the companies are looking to compete in new line-ups against Chinese and German automakers.

TERRENCE TERASHIMA TOKYO "Japanese automakers are seeing greater market opportunities in China. Moreover, they are hoping that this will lead to a wider market in Asia."

SHINISHI SEKI, VICE SENIOR ECONOMIST THE JAPAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE "Japanese automakers have expanded their shares in coastal cities, but have not been too strong in cities further inland. All the makers are eyeing strengthening their sales, starting with large and medium sized cities in inland China."

Analysts see rapid growth and competition from Chinese automakers, in addition to the growing demand for alternative energy vehicles.

There is a global demand for greener cars, as well as complying with the Chinese government's quotas for environmentally friendly vehicles.

SHINISHI SEKI, VICE SENIOR ECONOMIST THE JAPAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE "Japanese makers placed their efforts and did rather well on gasoline cars. But from now on, the companies have to consider the local environmental regulations, such as those in China, and come up with lineups of alternative energy vehicles, electric vehicles as well as conventional gasoline cars."

Analysts expect increased investments in Electric vehicles by Chinese automakers in the coming years. In addition to ramping up their production of EV cars in China, a careful strategy is needed for the Japanese automakers to stay in the game, in the Chinese market. Terrence Terashima, CGTN Tokyo.