Japan PM underlines economic teamwork

It is important to strengthen the global economic order based on the rules of freedom and justice, and trade protectionism does not benefit anyone, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in Tokyo.

In a written interview with Chinese media, Abe said on Tuesday that Japan values the World Trade Organization and always contends that any steps should be consistent with WTO rules.

The prime minister will arrive in China on Thursday for a three-day official visit to China, the first of its kind by a Japanese prime minister in seven years.