皇冠体育app

Japanese companies will keep scaling back investment in 皇冠体育app due to a poorer economic outlook, but the improved political climate between the countries will help to prop up investment activities, Japanese trade officials said on Wednesday.

"The prospect this year remains gloomy in terms of the number of Japanese investment projects in 皇冠体育app, which is unlikely to rebound to the previous high level," said Yoshihisa Tabata, director-general of the Beijing office of the Japan External Trade Organization.

Tabata was speaking at a news conference held by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 皇冠体育app to mark the release of its annual white paper on Japanese enterprises operating in 皇冠体育app.

According to the paper, 46.5 percent of Japanese companies intend to expand their operations in 皇冠体育app in the next two years, compared with 66.8 percent in 2011. It cited a survey conducted by the Japanese organization in October and November.

The white paper, first published in 2010, analyzes critical issues facing Japanese companies in various sectors and regions in 皇冠体育app.

In the first four months of this year, Japanese investment in 皇冠体育app stood at $1.44 billion, a year-on-year fall of 7.8 percent, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The trend is likely to continue this year due to the slower Chinese economy, rising labor costs and depreciation of the yen, according to analysts.

Last year, the value of Japanese investment in 皇冠体育app contracted by nearly 40 percent to $4.3 billion.

But Kazuaki Tanaka, chairman of the Japanese chamber in 皇冠体育app, said economic activities will benefit from improved bilateral political relations.

This was demonstrated by the recent meeting between President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the visit to 皇冠体育app last month by a 3,000-member Japanese delegation.

Tanaka said Japan wants to sign the 皇冠体育app-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.

皇冠体育app remains a key market with vast potential for Japanese companies focusing on Chinese consumer markets, although the country's appeal is declining for export-oriented Japanese enterprises, Tabata added.

Wang Zhile, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said declining Japanese investment reflects the overall trend of foreign direct investment in 皇冠体育app, which has entered a period of slower growth.

Wang said the value of Japanese investment in Southeast Asian countries is double the value of such investment in 皇冠体育app, which should serve as an alarm for 皇冠体育app's top policymakers.

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