China and Japan should step up collaboration to cope with the global economic slowdown and to continue bolstering the foundation for economic recovery, said a joint statement of the third round of dialogue between the two countries' finance ministers on Saturday.

Both sides called for appropriate macro-economic and industry restructuring measures to facilitate a strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth in the two countries, East Asia and the whole world, said the statement released on the website of China's Ministry of Finance.

The next round of the dialogue will be held in Japan next year, according to the statement.

The second round of the dialogue was held in Japan in March 2008.