China and Japan saw positive cooperation in 2010 despite ups and downs, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue said Sunday.

Bilateral trade in 2010 reached a record $297.77 billion, up 30.2 percent year on year, Hu said, adding that China has been Japan's largest market for two consecutive years.

The two governments last year organized 4,000 youth exchanges and launched the project of sending 700 Chinese media people and social scientists to Japan, Hu said.

In 2010, China and Japan signed a framework agreement to boost cooperation in food security.

China and Japan have more common interests than differences, Hu said, adding the two sides share more opportunities than challenges.

Hu called on both sides to promote the healthy and steady development of the strategic and mutually-beneficial relationship in line with the four political documents and consensus agreed upon by leaders of both countries.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2011)