Japan eyes ministerial talks with China
(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-10-01 14:37

Japan is ready to have ministerial-level talks with China over the proposed cooperated gas and oil exploration in East China Sea fields, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Sunday after lower-level talks ended at odds Saturday. Kyodo reported.

An aerial view shows gas drilling rigs at China's Tianwaitian field in the East China Sea. Picture is taken on September 19, 2005.

His comments came after the two-day senior working-level talks in Tokyo ended Saturday with the two countries only agreeing to meet again later this month.

Japan and China have yet to bridge the gap between their respective proposals for joint development.

The next round of senior working-level talks will be held in Beijing later this month.

China, Japan split on gas, to hold more talks

China agreed to consider a Japanese proposal for joint exploration of energy resources in a disputed area of the East China Sea as the latest round of talks ended in Tokyo on Saturday.

The two sides, Asia's largest economic powers and two of the world's top energy importers, agreed to meet for a fourth round of talks later this month in Beijing, AFP reported.

"The Chinese side said they would consider it earnestly and would unveil their stance at the next round of talks in Beijing," Kenichiro Sasae, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian affairs bureau at Japan's Foreign Ministry, told reporters.