China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Tuesday called for enhanced trade and economic cooperation between China and Japan.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during a meeting here with Governor Takahashi Harumi of Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture.

Jia said China-Japan relations have maintained a good development momentum on the whole. During Chinese President Hu Jintao's Japan visit last year, the two sides issued a joint statement on all-round promotion of strategic and mutually beneficial relations, laying down a guiding principle for the long-term development of bilateral ties and ushering their relations into a new development phase.

The two nations are important partners in trade and economic cooperation, and they should work together to further expand and enhance that cooperation to lay a solid material basis for their strategic and mutually beneficial relations, he said.

Jia said the Hokkaido Prefecture, with its key geological location and abundant resources, is an important part of the Japanese economy.

He urged more cooperation in energy saving, environment protection, tourism, agriculture and food sectors between China and the prefecture for a win-win result and sustainable economic development.

Takahashi Harumi said her government is willing to closely cooperate with the Chinese side and step up cooperation in trade, investment and tourism to jointly cope with the global financial crisis.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)