China positive about economic exchanges with Japan: ex-top diplomat Iwaya

BEIJING - Former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters Tuesday that China has a positive view of promoting economic and private-sector exchanges with Japan after meeting with senior Chinese officials in a bid to improve strained bilateral ties.

Iwaya, who heads a Japanese business delegation including corporate executives, also said he urged Beijing to speed up Japan-bound rare-earth export procedures. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng told the group there is no problem with shipping rare earths for civilian purposes to Japan, Iwaya said.