A stable, healthy relationship between China and Japan conforms to the shared interests of the two countries, former vice-premier Zeng Peiyan said in Tokyo on Monday.

"Chinese leaders attach great importance to developing relations with Japan," added Zeng, who is now chairman of the nongovernmental organization China Center for International Economic Exchanges. "Economic and trade cooperation is one of their shared interests and is believed to be 'a ballast stone' for stabilizing bilateral relations."

Zeng is in Tokyo for the third round of a dialogue between Chinese and Japanese business leaders and former high-ranking officials, which kicked off on Monday.