(Yicai Global) Nov. 23 -- A record 250-strong delegation of Japanese business and entrepreneurial heavyweights kicked off their annual visit to China in Beijing from Nov. 20 to 23. The delegates proposed collaboration with China on projects related to the One Belt, One Road Initiative, The Paper reported yesterday.

The Japanese delegates said they hope economic cooperation will benefit both sides as well as Asia and the rest of the world.

The Japan-China Economic Association identified energy conservation and environmental protection including intelligent manufacturing, as specific potential areas for cooperation in the proposal. The group pushed for the development of a bilateral joint research institute between the two countries for the initiation of such projects. Both parties set up a window mechanism for information exchange in candidate projects.