China and the Republic of Korea started their first formal talks on maritime demarcation in Seoul on Tuesday.

Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and his ROK counterpart Cho Tae-yul headed their teams.

The two countries have overlapping exclusive economic zones in the Yellow Sea. The ROK insists that a demarcation line be drawn in the middle of the sea area, while Beijing says other factors, such as coastline length, should be considered.