BEIJING (Kyodo) China and Japan are considering a vice-ministerial meeting in late February in Tokyo to discuss measures to prevent maritime run-ins similar to the one near the Senkaku Islands last September that severely strained bilateral ties, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
Through the strategic dialogue, the two sides hope to improve relations ahead of a trilateral summit among China, Japan and South Korea set for May in Tokyo and a meeting of the three countries' foreign ministers set for March in Kyoto, the sources said.
Tokyo and Beijing also hope the dialogue will pave the way for a visit to China by Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, possibly in the spring.