Arrangements are under way for Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to meet in Hawaii on Oct. 27, sources said Wednesday.

The meeting is being planned ahead of the scheduled visit to Japan by President Barack Obama next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit. The agenda is expected to include the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, as well as issues related to China and North Korea, according to the sources.

It would be the second time that Maehara, who became foreign minister in last month's Cabinet reshuffle, and Clinton hold talks. Their first meeting was in New York on Sept. 23.

By arranging frequent meetings between the countries' top diplomats, Tokyo is hoping to demonstrate its close ties with Washington at a time when relations with Beijing are tense, the sources said.

Ties between Tokyo and Beijing have been under strain since a row flared up near the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China also claims, in the East China Sea.