BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said China and Japan would seek closer cooperation in dealing with the world economic downturn at the second China-Japan high-level economic dialogue on Tuesday.

    At the meeting, scheduled for June 7 in Tokyo, the two sides would discuss energy conservation, environmental protection, finance, agriculture, trade and investment, intellectual property, information and communication, as well as disaster prevention and relief, said Chen.

    The two countries would seek to reach concrete agreement and sign documents of cooperation.

    China was willing to work with Japan to tackle the economic downturn by making use of each other's market resources, said Chen.

    China hoped they could jointly fight trade protectionism, stabilize the Asian market, and facilitate mutual trade and cooperation in multi-lateral trade negotiations, said Chen.

    Cooperation in key areas of technology trade, food safety and energy conservation should be strengthened, said Chen.

    Chen also called for regional cooperation and coordination in multi-lateral economic activities.

    The dialogue will be co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.

    The mechanism was jointly launched by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during Wen's trip to Japan in April 2007.

    The first China-Japan high-level economic dialogue was held in Beijing, China's capital, in December 2007.

Special Report:  Global Financial Crisis