Japan and China reaffirmed their intent April 22 to expedite a new fisheries pact covering waters in the East China Sea but were hampered by differences over delineating each nation's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
Negotiators had realistic discussions on the framework of the new fisheries pact and establishment of the exclusive economic zone, but the two sides have not reached any concrete agreements, Foreign Ministry officials said. There are still problems to be overcome because of a territorial row over the Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu isles in China, in the East China Sea.
The two countries are now willing to establish a provisional fisheries pact and the negotiators discussed its details, the officials said. They will resume negotiations next month, according to the officials.