CRI听力:Japanese Business Delegation Visits China

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang has met with a delegation of Japanese business leaders to discuss ways of increasing bilateral cooperation, amid chilly ties between Asia's two biggest economies.

The delegation of the Japan-China Association on Economy and Trade consists of over 200 business people from 89 Japanese companies.

It's the association's 40th visit to China and the size of the delegation is the biggest ever.

During the meeting, Wang Yang voiced appreciation over the association's positive contributions to the development of bilateral ties.

China-Japan relations have plunged to the lowest point in years over the territorial dispute over the Diaoyu Islands.

Political spats aside, though, delegation head Sadayuki Sakakibara is hoping for stronger economic ties.

"The economic relationship for Japan and China is by nature a beneficial one. At the same time Asia, and the world, will benefit from this. I hope that Japan and China's friends will jointly understand this."

In another development, China and Japan have restarted high-level consultations on maritime affairs.

The Chinese foreign ministry says a two-day meeting has been held in east China's Qingdao city, involving officials from the two countries' defense ministries and maritime affairs departments.

They exchanged views on East China Sea-related affairs as well as maritime cooperation, with both sides agreeing to resume maritime liaisons between their defense agencies.