Beijing, Tokyo agree to improve ties in 2011

BEIJING. March 2. KAZINFORM Beijing and Tokyo agreed on Monday that 2011 would be a defining year for bilateral relations, marking a bid to smooth ties after the maritime dispute last September; Kazinform refers to China Daily.

The agreement was reached at the 11th China-Japan strategic dialogue in Tokyo, between Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and his Japanese counterpart Kenichiro Sasae, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

These were the first ministerial-level talks since bilateral ties soured following a series of diplomatic rows sparked by the fishing boat collision last year near the Diaoyu Islands.

Labeling 2011 as "important and crucial" for bilateral relations, the two countries vowed to patch up ties, the statement said.

The two vice-ministers agreed to "make joint efforts to create a favorable atmosphere and the conditions to mark next year's 40th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China relations", according to the statement.

They also agreed to promote mutual trust, deepen areas of cooperation and settle sensitive issues appropriately, it added.

Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported that the dialogue also included discussions on future meetings between the countries' leaders and the development of gas fields in the East China Sea.

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara told Zhang on Monday that a win-win relationship would contribute to stability in the region and the world, Kyodo said; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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