A group of Japanese business leaders are in Beijing this week for talks with Chinese officials, the first such meetings in about four years. The leaders met on Wednesday with officials in charge of China's economic policies and agreed to strengthen ties.

The delegates from the Japan-China Economic Association requested Beijing deregulate investment rules to attract financing for decarbonization projects. They also called for technical cooperation in shipbuilding.

Officials from China's National Development and Reform Commission said both countries can benefit from bilateral cooperation.

The Japanese delegates are scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday.

The visit comes amid China's suspension of Japanese fishery product imports. Beijing halted the shipments citing the release of treated and diluted water into the sea from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Also, Beijing has yet to reinstate short-term visa exemptions for Japanese citizens. The program was suspended in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.