Wen, Aso pledge closer economic ties

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BEIJING, April 29 (UPI) -- Chinese and Japanese leaders promised Wednesday the countries would work together on the economic crisis, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

At a meeting in Beijing, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese counterpart Taro Aso pledged to cooperate more closely in developing ways to deal with the financial situation, and lead efforts to re-establish economic growth in the region, the state-run news agency said.

"While facing global challenges, all countries should work hand-in-hand, and China will consecutively play its positive and constructive role," Wen reportedly told Aso during their talks in the Great Hall of the People.

Wen called for the two countries to stabilize their bilateral trade and investments and work more closely together on energy-saving and environmental efforts as well as in the information and communication technology sectors and "green economy" initiatives, the news agency said.

Wen also told Aso he wanted to expand the Chiang Mai Initiative, a bilateral currency swap arrangement designed to help the two countries tackle a possible foreign capital flow shortage.