China and Japan are standing together to protect free trade. They have restarted their long-stalled economic dialogue. The meeting also lays a foundation for repairing strained ties. CGTN's Li Jianhua reports from Beijing.

LI JIANHUA BEIJING "It's been eight years since the last high-level economic talk. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the year-long effort from the Japanese side, which led to the restart of talks. Cooperation and free trade dominated the discussion."

Wang Yi hopes Japan can benefit from joining China's Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides agree on the establishment of free trade zone including China, Japan and South Korea. The two nations also warned of the impact a trade war would have on the global economy. Trade issues with the U.S. were also discussed in the face of a looming trade war between Beijing and Washington. And there's also the issue of Japan. U.S. President Trump tweeted last Friday that Japan has hit the United States hard on trade for years.

Wang Yi also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe reaffirmed his willingness to restore relations. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is expected to attend China-Japan-ROK summit in Tokyo next month. Abe sees his meeting with Li as a huge opportunity towards developing China-Japan relations. "