Japan Biz Leaders Welcome Abe-Xi Talks

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)--Japanese business leaders welcomed on Monday the first-ever talks held between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier in the day. "It is a very important step toward the development of future-oriented bilateral relations" between the two countries, said Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Akio Mimura in a statement. Japan Business Federation Chairman Sadayuki Sakakibara hailed the meeting as "one of the most significant events in recent days." The head of the country's biggest business lobby, better known as Keidanren, told a press conference that he expects bilateral dialogue and cooperation to get on track and establish deeper and wider relations than before. Referring to an agreement at a Japan-China foreign ministers' meeting prior to Monday's summit to resume ministerial talks between Tokyo and Beijing such as high-level economic dialogue, Sakakibara said, "The outlook for bilateral economic relations has become brighter." Mimura stressed that good bilateral ties between Japan and China are also essential for the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. END