TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan held its first ministerial dialogue on energy policies here on Thursday, agreeing to reinforce energy cooperation.

    Ma Kai, head of China's State Development and Reform Commission, and Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari had in-depth discussions on a wide range of energy-related issues, including energy-saving, nuclear power, coal industry and multinational cooperation.

    They agreed that the cooperation in energy-saving, environmental protection, new energy and oil replacements are the key contents in the bilateral strategic, mutually-beneficial relations and the crucial driving force for the development Chinese-Japanese economic relations.

    The two sides have signed a joint statement on boosting energy cooperation.

    Meanwhile, some 600 entrepreneurs from China and Japan talked about energy policies, technology and cooperation covering areas of electric power, coal, oil and gas, and renewable energy.