KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Japan wants to increase trade with Malaysia by implementing fresh growth strategies under the new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's administration. Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie said he was positive that the Japan-Malaysia two-way trade this year would be better than last year.

"I hope the growth strategies under the new administration will be successfully launched and bear fruition, leading to higher trade volume between Malaysia and Japan," he told a media briefing on Japan's new growth strategies to bolster bilateral trade.

Total trade between Malaysia and Japan last year stood at RM108.71 billion, with Japan being the fourth major trading partner compared with RM136.89 billion in 2008.

Export and import volume with Japan amounted to RM54.42 billion and RM54.29, respectively.

-- BERNAMA