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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.
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