The Japanese and Chinese governments are making preparations to hold a working-level meeting on food safety later this month in light of a recent scandal over expired chicken meat provided by a Chinese producer, Japanese government sources said Monday.
Aside from the content of the meeting, attention will also be focused on whether the two countries can use the opportunity to create an environment for a summit between their leaders on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Beijing in November.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not held a meeting since Abe assumed office in December 2012 as the countries are at odds over territory and perceptions of history.