China, Japan 'can lead the way'

China and Japan should work closer together amid the deepening European debt crisis to tackle regional and global economic problems, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a letter addressed to a key forum on Sunday.

The prime minister also emphasized that China's further development will translate into opportunities for the world's third-largest economy.

"China's rapid economic growth means opportunities for the international community, including Japan," Noda said. "Not only should both countries strengthen economic and trade cooperation, but they should also join hands to tackle regional and global issues and contribute to global peace and prosperity," he added.

Noda made the remarks in a letter read out during a banquet at the launch of the Beijing-Tokyo Forum which is being held in the Japanese capital from July 1 to July 3.

The forum, cosponsored by China Daily and Genron NPO, a Japanese think tank, has been held alternately, in Beijing and Tokyo, since 2005.

The annual gathering is one of the most significant platforms for communication among high-level non-government institutions from the two countries. This year's forum is being held under the theme "Future-Oriented China-Japan relations in a Global Perspective".

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

China's export growth has been slowing down, due to Europe's debt woes.

In Japan, despite plans to spend 20 trillion yen ($252 billion) to rebuild areas devastated by the 2011 earthquake, industrial output fell for the second straight month in May.

Zhao Qizheng, head of the foreign affairs committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said both governments should enhance cooperation to counter the global economic crisis.