Japanese PM wants to boost ties with China

TOKYO, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday he will use his upcoming China trip to move Japan's ties with the Asian giant to a new stage.

"I expect to further promote the development trend of Japan-China ties so that next year bilateral ties can develop even faster and move into a new stage," Fukuda told the Chinese media in interviews in Tokyo prior to his Thursday departure for China, Xinhua reported.

Fukuda, who became prime minister in September, said Japan-China relations have been developing smoothly since the China visit by his predecessor Shinzo Abe in October 2006 and that of Wen Jiabao" class="tpstyle">Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan last April.

He said China's economic development also is important to Japan's economic growth because China is Japan's largest trading partner and Japan is the largest investor in China, the report said.

He said he plans to make detailed suggestions on bilateral cooperation in environmental protection and energy during his visit. He said Japan is ready to cooperate in promoting efficiency of coal-fired power generation, water purification and a recycling economy.