Japan presses China to solve gas row
Monday, 3 December 2007
BEIJING, Dec 2 (Reuters): Japanese cabinet ministers called on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to help resolve a dispute over natural gas today, a day after high-level economic talks aimed at warming the long- chilly ties between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Trade Minister Akira Amari struck a warning note among mutual congratulations, telling Wen the issue of disputed natural gas in the sea between the two nations must be resolved.
"We need to solve the issue of exploration in the East China Sea," Komura said in his opening remarks, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters. "We need political leadership to resolve this issue."
Komura failed to make any progress on the dispute in bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday.
Amari also raised the problem with Wen, Japanese officials said. Tokyo wants a resolution before Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visits Beijing late this month or early next.
"We need to put the legal conflict aside and work for joint exploration," a Japanese official quoted Wen as telling the delegation. "Both sides should put forward more innovative ideas."
Eleven rounds of official-level talks have failed to yield a solution to the row, even though Wen and then-prime minister Shinzo Abe agreed in April that officials should come up with a concrete plan by the autumn.
Analysts have said further delays could spark fears in Japan that China is stalling for time by emphasising friendship, rather than addressing real problems.
China and Japan disagree over where the dividing line between their respective exclusive economic zones should lie.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Trade Minister Akira Amari struck a warning note among mutual congratulations, telling Wen the issue of disputed natural gas in the sea between the two nations must be resolved.
"We need to solve the issue of exploration in the East China Sea," Komura said in his opening remarks, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told reporters. "We need political leadership to resolve this issue."
Komura failed to make any progress on the dispute in bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday.
Amari also raised the problem with Wen, Japanese officials said. Tokyo wants a resolution before Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visits Beijing late this month or early next.
"We need to put the legal conflict aside and work for joint exploration," a Japanese official quoted Wen as telling the delegation. "Both sides should put forward more innovative ideas."
Eleven rounds of official-level talks have failed to yield a solution to the row, even though Wen and then-prime minister Shinzo Abe agreed in April that officials should come up with a concrete plan by the autumn.
Analysts have said further delays could spark fears in Japan that China is stalling for time by emphasising friendship, rather than addressing real problems.
China and Japan disagree over where the dividing line between their respective exclusive economic zones should lie.