"Cold (bilateral) ties have continued on the political front. This has affected economic and trade relations," Bo was quoted as saying at the meeting.

He noted that the difficulty in bilateral relations arose not because of the Chinese side or the Japanese people, but because of the Japanese leader's insistence on visiting the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, where top war criminals are honored.

Bo expressed his hope that Japan would have a right view on history and create conditions for closer trade cooperation in the future.

Bo is attending a three-day forum on energy saving and environment conservation which starts Monday in Tokyo.

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nikai expressed willingness to mend fences between the two countries by promoting economic cooperation.

He said at the meeting that Japan plans to take the forum as an opportunity to enhance cooperation in energy saving and bilateral exchanges.

During the meeting, the two ministers also agreed to start working-level talks to map out a mid- and long-term vision for economic, trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Bo also introduced China's strategy on developing the west and middle regions and invited Japanese enterprises to attend an investment and trade fair in Hunan province in September.

Nikai said Japan will promote trade exchanges between Chinese and Japanese economic circles.

After the meeting with Nikai, Bo also met with governors of Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Wakayama prefectures, mayors of Osaka and Kobe, as well as other local officials, who also expressed willingness to work on improvement of bilateral ties and economic cooperation.