Japan, China Likely to Hold Subcabinet-Level Talks This Month

Tokyo, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)--Japan and China are considering holding a subcabinet-level meeting between the two countries in Tokyo this month, informed sources said Monday. Under the plan under consideration, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou will visit Tokyo for talks with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama. Kong will be the highest-ranking Chinese official to travel to Japan this year. The two sides are expected to discuss bilateral relations and North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The Japanese side hopes that the subcabinet-level talks will lay the groundwork for promoting bilateral exchanges, including mutual visits by the two countries' foreign ministers as agreed at a bilateral summit in November last year. Political dialogue between Japan and China has been stalled. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has asked for telephone talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, who has not met the request. END