Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Tuesday that he plans to purchase 12 new instruments and 12 new strings from Japan, which has been criticized for failing to comply with global standards on sound quality and environmental protection.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Xi said he plans on buying 12 instruments and 10 strings from Japanese manufacturers.

The announcement was first reported by the South Chinese Daily.

The move was a significant step in China’s bid to become a major player in the global market for instruments, as well as an acknowledgment of the country’s economic power.

China has been the world’s largest producer of music instruments, with the bulk of its output coming from the world famous acoustic and electric pianos, which are also used in the world stage, including the Grammy Awards.

Its efforts to boost its exports have prompted other countries to follow suit.

Earlier this year, China signed a deal with French-based firm Roland for the purchase of a second French-made piano.

The deal, worth more than $6 billion, also includes a $3 billion investment in a new factory for production of acoustic instruments.