Regional cooperation between China and Japan plays an important part in better bilateral relations, diplomats and officials from both countries said on Monday.

Li Xiaolin, head of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said there are many areas that have great potential for the two countries' regional cooperation, including economic development, urban construction, city management, land utilization, green energies and disaster relief.

According to Li, China and Japan will hold a dialogue between their provincial and prefecture governors on April 18 in Tokyo. This is the first time they will have a formal mechanism of this kind.