Japan and China remained apart late Tuesday over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine but agreed on other areas, including accelerating talks to resolve the dispute over gas and oil exploration rights.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, were unable to bridge the gap over the biggest obstacle in bilateral ties in a meeting that marked the first talks between the two foreign ministers in a year.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the two-day Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha.