China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday urged Japan to reflect on and correct its mistakes, and create conditions for normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan. 

He Yongqian, a spokesperson of the MOFCOM, made the remarks when asked by a reporter from a Japanese media outlet whether China still intends to promote economic ties with Japanese companies as Japanese companies were not invited to the China Development Forum (CDF) this year, and they are facing what the Japanese reporter called more difficulties in doing business in China recently.

China is committed to high‑level opening-up and to building a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, He said. 

He pointed to a recent survey released by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China showing that Japanese companies operating in China reported an overall positive trend, maintained a high level of satisfaction with the Chinese business environment, and planned to deepen their presence in the Chinese market.

"A stable and healthy China-Japan economic and trade relationship is in the common interest of the people of both countries. We once again urge the Japanese government to earnestly reflect on and correct its mistakes, and create conditions for normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries," the MOFCOM spokesperson said.

Data from the MOFCOM showed that Japanese foreign direct investment into China surged by 55.5 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025. 

According to a report from the Australian think tank Lowy Institute, "at a time when Tokyo and Beijing appear to be drifting further apart politically, Japanese capital is moving in the opposite direction."

The door of the high-level forum remains open to sincere partners, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times, adding that the 55.5 percent surge in Japanese investment proves that market forces are irresistible. The future trajectory hinges on whether Japan can truly reflect on and correct its mistakes, change course, and create favorable conditions for the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

As of the end of 2024, Japan had established about 58,000 enterprises in China, with actual utilized investment exceeding $133.6 billion, making it the second-largest source of cumulative foreign investment in China. The main investment sector is manufacturing. In recent years, Japanese investment projects in non-manufacturing areas such as finance and insurance, retail, and catering have gradually increased, according to the MOFCOM.

Global Times