BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China and Japan will hold the eighth round of talks on the East China Sea issues in Beijing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press conference on Thursday.

    "The state leaders of the two countries have achieved important consensus on the East China Sea issue, and China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to promote the process of consultation based on the consensus so as to seek a joint exploration plan accepted by both countries," she said.

    The last round of consultation was convened in Tokyo in March.