China-Japan talks yield minor progress
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-22 19:43

Chinese leaders had not publicly received visiting Japanese politicians since October, when Koizumi last paid his respects at the shrine. The two countries have not exchanged visits of heads of state for years.

Japan invaded and occupied large parts of China from 1931 to 1945 and memories of Japanese atrocities run deep.

Nikai said he and Bo had agreed to hold a joint symposium in Japan in May on energy conservation and environmental protection, and to work together to try to reinvigorate the flagging Doha round of world trade talks, Kyodo said.

They did not discuss disputed gas fields in the East China Sea, Nikai said, adding that he expected the issue to come up in his talks with State Councillor Tang later in the day.

China's Party leadership has also hosted a delegation from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party this week with the Yasukuni shrine a focus of conversation.

Analysts say that the lengthy political chill between the countries might harm prospering economic ties. China replaced the United States as Japan's top trade partner in 2004.

Trade between Japan and China rose 12.7 percent to $189.4 billion in 2005, a record high, but the pace of trade expansion was down from 26.9 percent in 2004, Japan's External Trade Organisation (JETRO) said.