China, Japan look to make progress on talks
(AP/AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-22 07:21

"There is a good opportunity in the sense that nationalist feelings on both sides have subsided a little and both sides have in fact been working hard to reestablish these contacts," he said.

Japan's trade with China rises in 2005

Japan's trade with China rose 12.7 percent in 2005 to $189.4 billion, marking the seventh straight year of growth, a government-affiliated trade organization said Tuesday.

While exports to China rose 8.9 percent to $80.4 billion, said the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, the rate was slower than in 2004, when it expanded 29 percent. The decline was led by decreasing exports of machinery and electronic appliances as Japanese companies shifted production to China, JETRO said.

The United States is Japan's leading export market, accounting for 22.4 percent of Japanese exports, followed by the European Union at 15.7 percent. China is a third biggest market with a 13.1 percent share.

Imports from China increased 15.7 percent to $109 billion in 2005, also rising for the seventh straight year, led by office appliances such as computers and printers as well as digital music players, it said. Imports of textile products also rose as last year's cold winter boosted demands for clothing, JETRO said.

Japan's trade deficit with China rose to $28.7 billion, a record high, from $20.4 billion in 2004, it said.