Japan and China will begin a new round of bilateral talks over a lingering farm trade dispute in Beijing today, but a top Japanese trade representative indicated any quick resolution is unlikely.

"Many things have yet to be discussed," Katsusada Hirose, vice minister of economy, trade and industry, said.

The dispute revolves around Japan's import curbs on stone leeks, shiitake mushrooms and tatami straw, all of which come mainly from China.

The protectionist curbs, in place since spring, prompted Beijing to impose 100 percent punitive tariffs on Japanese motor vehicles, mobile phones and air conditioners -- a move Japan believes runs foul of WTO rules.

China will become a WTO member on Tuesday. Asked whether Japan will then take the case to the WTO, Hirose said it depends on progress in the bilateral talks.

Japan insists its protectionist measure was imposed within WTO guidelines.

Kyocera into China

Kyocera Corp. said Thursday it will set up a joint venture in Guangdong Province in southern China in January to produce laser printers, digital copiers and related parts.

To be capitalized at $15 million, Kyocera Mita Office Equipment (Dongguan) Co., will be owned 90 percent by Kyocera and the remainder by a local firm, Dongguan Shilong Yue Long Industry Co., the Kyoto-based high-tech ceramics maker said.

The joint concern will run a new Kyocera factory in Guangdong. First phase construction of the factory ended Thursday, Kyocera said. The 167,725 square meter plant will be one of the largest factories in the Kyocera group, it said.

Kyocera Mita Office Equipment will initially hire 2,300 employees for a monthly output target of 45,000 printers and copiers, and it plans to increase the workforce to 4,000 employees and monthly output to 100,000 printers and copiers.

Tieup for the trees

Oji Paper Co. and Marubeni Corp. said Thursday they have set up a joint venture in the southern Chinese city of Nanning to carry out a large-scale eucalyptus tree plantation project.

Guangxi Oji Plantation Forest Co., capitalized at 450 million yen, is owned 90 percent by Oji with the remainder put up by Marubeni.

The project will take place in Guangxi Province, which borders Vietnam. The company aims to plant 1,000 hectares of eucalyptus trees annually with an eye to expanding the area to 6,000 hectares. The total capital outlay for the project will come to 900 million yen, the companies said.

Planting is set for February and logging is expected to start in 2008. The trees will be processed into wood chips, which will later be sold. Eucalyptus trees will be replanted in the area after the first round of logging, they said.