China, Japan leaders agree to meeting

The leaders of China and Japan agreed to a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a summit, overcoming a diplomatic impasse between the Asian powers.

Agreement for the rare session between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao came after the foreign ministers from both countries got involved in negotiations, said Hatsuhisa Takashima, a press officer at Japan's Foreign Ministry.

The leaders "will seek to further strengthen bilateral ties for the sake of world peace," Takashima told reporters.

Source: China Daily/agencies