Premier Wen Jiabao is likely to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the sidelines of high-level East Asian meetings, scheduled for next week in Singapore, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei said yesterday.

Diplomats from both sides are in "contact" to "arrange" the meeting, He said at a press conference in Beijing. Wen leaves for Singapore on Sunday on an official visit.

"It would be the first meeting between them (since Fukuda assumed the prime minister's post)," He said. "I believe they will exchange views on China-Japan relations and discuss how to enrich the strategic ties of mutual benefit and other issues of common concern."