Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi have agreed that the 2 countries will strengthen ties.

Gemba is visiting China for the first time since he assumed the post. He met Yang in Beijing on Wednesday night, after a meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao.

Gemba told Yang that China's development provides an opportunity for Japan, and expressed hope that public sentiments in the 2 countries will improve as next year is the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties.

The 2 foreign ministers agreed to make final arrangements for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's first visit to China next month.

Gemba asked for an early resumption of negotiations toward signing a treaty on a joint gas development project in the East China Sea. The talks have been suspended since last year.

Gemba also called for the creation of a framework for dialogue between the 2 countries to avoid potential maritime disputes. Yang replied that China would cooperate on the issues.

Gemba asked China to alleviate and to lift as soon as possible import restrictions on farm products from Japan, imposed after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Yang said that China would seriously consider the matter, employing scientific assessments to ensure safety.

Gemba says Yang told him that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is one of the basic ideas for a free-trade framework in the Asia-Pacific region, and that China would not oppose the TPP.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20111124_04.html

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