China and Japan concluded in Beijing 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 Chinese Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, and Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, participated in the consultation as heads of respective delegations.

 

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

 

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

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)