China is willing to cooperate with Japan in developing alternatives of rare earth. That's according to China's Commerce Minister Chen Deming.

As the world's largest rare earth producer and exporter, China provides more than 90 percent of global rare earth. Although its reserves account for only one-third of the world's total.

Chen Deming said China hopes other countries understand its measures to reduce the quota for both domestic and overseas consumers, as the country faces greater environmental pressures.

China announced its first batch of 2011 rare earth export quotas at more than 14 tonnes at the end of 2010. The full-year quotas are under discussion.