The fifth round of talks between China and Japan on the East China Sea issue was held in Tokyo on Thursday morning.

 

Director of Chinese Foreign Ministry Department of Asian Affairs Hu Zhengyue and head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae attended the talks as top negotiators.

 

During the talks, the two sides reviewed the process of negotiation so far, and reached a common view that the negotiation has been positive and rewarding, although their gap of differences is still wide. The two sides agreed to hold next round of talks in Beijing as soon as possible.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2006)