China, Japan to resume gas talks
(Kyodo)
Updated: 2006-05-16 20:22
Japan and China will hold talks aimed at solving their tow over gas and oil
exploration rights in the East China Sea on Thursday in Tokyo, a Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
A Chinese gas platform in the East China Sea.
[AFP] |
A large gap remains between the two countries over the issue, and while it is
hoped the upcoming talks would help narrow the gap, China does "not expect any
major breakthrough," Liu Jianchao told a regular press briefing.
A Chinese company is developing gas fields in an area of the sea close to
waters that Japan claims, and Tokyo is concerned this action could siphon off
resources from what it claims to be the Japanese side.
Both countries say they should jointly develop the area to resolve the
dispute, but they differ on where the joint work should take place. China
appears to have rejected Japan's offer to conduct joint development in an area
that includes the Chinese gas fields.
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