Special Report: NPC & CPPCC Sessions 2006

    BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The fourth round of East China Sea consultation which concluded here Tuesday between Chinese and Japanese diplomatic officials was "pragmatic and constructive,"Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said.

    "China and Japan have agreed to launch the next round of consultation as early as possible," Li said at a press conference Tuesday held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

    It is a fact that China and Japan have different views on the East China Sea issue, but the two sides expect to address the difference through negotiation and cooperation.  Enditem

Related: China, Japan to hold new round consultation on East China Sea issue

    BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Japan concluded here 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. Enditem