China and Japan will hold the fourth round of consultation on the East China Sea issue here in early March, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday.

During Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai's visit to China, the two sides agreed to hold the new round of consultation in early March, Liu told a regular news briefing.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jianxuan met Toshihiro Nikai respectively and Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai held talks with him during his visit.

According to Liu, the two sides reached consensus on improving economic and trade cooperation especially in the field of environmental protection, energy saving and two-way investment.

"China considers this kind of cooperation beneficial," Liu said.

The spokesman said that China also stressed the importance for the Japanese side to correctly dealing with the historical issues as well as to stick to the principles of the three political documents signed between the two countries.

Since October 2004, China and Japan have convened three rounds of talks on the East China Sea issue.

Source: Xinhua