China, Japan to hold trade talks this week

Japanese and Chinese officials will hold talks late this week, said Japanese Foreign Ministry on November 29. The talks will focus on trade between the two countries, and also touch upon bilateral relations and regional issues. This will be the fourth round of China-Japan talks on economic ties since October 2003.

Shuji Noguchi, an official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, said although regional and bilateral issues will be mentioned, the talks will focus on trade and investment, including China-produced pirated video games, films and other IPR related questions.

The talks are scheduled on the coming Thursday and Friday. Last year, China for the first time surpassed the United States to become the largest trading partner of Japan, further highlighting bilateral ties between the two biggest economies in Asia.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, regardless of strong opposition from Asian countries including China, visited the Yasukuni Shrine again and thus roused extreme indignation from China, South Korea and other Asian Pacific countries. Besides, the two countries are also quarreling over the sovereignty over undersea resources in adjoining waters. Diplomatic relations have been plunged into a record low in ten years.

By People's Daily Online