China, Japan to hold talks on maritime affairs

BEIJING - China and Japan will hold the sixth round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs this week in Haikou, capital of China's southern Hainan province.

Officials from both countries' foreign ministries, defense ministries and other government organs, including marine law enforcement and management departments, will attend the talks, lasting from Wednesday to Friday, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang.

China stands ready to exchange opinions on maritime-related issues with the Japanese side and strengthen understanding and mutual trust, Lu said at a daily press briefing.

The China-Japan high-level consultations on maritime affairs were set up in January 2012, with the first round of talks held in May of the same year in Hangzhou, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province.

The fifth round of consultations was held this September in Japan's Hiroshima, with the two sides agreeing to speed up negotiations on air and maritime contact.