Keidanren and two other business associations will send a delegation to China in November in hopes of strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

It will be the first time for the three bodies — Keidanren, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan-China Economic Association — to send a joint delegation to China.

Keidanren consists largely of big companies, while the chamber of commerce represents smaller firms.

At a news conference Tuesday, Keidanren chief Sadayuki Sakakibara said sending a joint delegation, rather than dispatching officials separately, will create greater opportunities to build relationships with Chinese companies of varying size.

"We will be able to send the . . . message that the Japanese business community seeks to deepen exchanges (with Chinese counterparts) as one," he said.

Sakakibara said the idea of sending a joint delegation came from Akio Mimura, chairman of the chamber of commerce.