China and Japan concluded Tuesday the fourth round of consultation on the East China Sea issue.

During the consultation, the two sides exchanged views in depth on joint exploitation and agreed to hold next round of consultation as soon as possible.

The two-day consultation is "pragmatic" and "constructive", said a Chinese diplomat who declined to be named.

Hu Zhengyao, director of the Asian Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japanese Foreign Ministry, participated in the consultation as head of respective Chinese and Japanese delegation.

Sasae told reporters Tuesday that the two sides exchanged views "frankly" and "in depth". He said China raised new proposals during the consultation.

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

Source: Xinhua