China wants strong Japan trade ties

BEIJING, April 22 (UPI) -- China's commerce minister Bo Xilai said Friday the country's trade policy toward Japan remained unchanged despite growing political tension.

According to local media reports, Bo said that strong economic and trading ties between the two countries was in the interest of both China and Japan.

"But mutual beneficial economic cooperation also needs the political foundation of mutual respect," Bo said, adding that the Chinese suffered immensely under Japanese occupation during World War II.

"This basic fact cannot be covered and changed," Bo said.