TOKYO - Many Chinese city and provincial officials expressed their wishes to share experience in government and crisis management with their Japanese counterparts at the sixth annual Beijing-Tokyo Forum on Monday.

"Local Economy Exchanges and Challenges" was one of the major themes at the forum in Tokyo. Representatives from the Chinese side delivered presentations on topics such as local economic development, natural disaster prevention and relief work, as well as poverty issues.

Members of the Chinese delegation also stressed the importance of economic cooperation with Japan, hoping to further invest in mutually beneficial projects.

"China's port city of Dalian in Liaoning province plays an important role in the Sino-Japanese economic cooperation," said Xia Deren, Party secretary of Dalian.

More than 4,000 Japanese enterprises are registered in Dalian, comprising about 29.5 percent of the city's overseas-funded enterprises, Xia said.

"Dalian should deepen its relationship with Japan," he said.

Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said at the forum that the number of sister city pairs in China and Japan now is about 250, and that number will continue to increase in the future.

"We will also join hands to push ahead projects in international city exchanges and city diplomacy," said Chen.

Li Xiaokun contributed to this story.

By Ai Yang (China Daily)