(Yicai Global) June 14 -- China has always been receptive to Japanese participation in the Belt and Road initiative and supports companies from both sides working more closely under it and in third-party markets, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said today. 

"China and Japan have complementary strengths in the co-development of third-party markets. Collaboration between the two sides will not only help expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation but also aid in promoting third parties' economic development," he advised.

Ever more Japanese firms are translating their positive attitude toward the Belt and Road initiative into real action amid growing global confidence of its prospects, Geng said in reply to a reporter's question as to how China feels about Japanese attempts to jump on the bandwagon, while some China-EU freight train operators are offering transport services for them to ship their products to Europe.

China and Japan recently signed a memorandum on third-party market cooperation and resolved to set up an interdepartmental mechanism to promote it, Geng said, adding that he believes it will provide better institutional assurances and an effective platform for Chinese and Japanese companies to work together in third-party markets.

China supports companies from both sides working more closely under the initiative to benefit their people and achieve a mutually-beneficial outcome, he stated.

Editor: Ben Armour