A fresh round of talks on Tuesday between ministers from China and Japan about a dragging trade dispute has ended without solution, officials from both countries said.
The discussions in Beijing had finished and the Japanese delegation left immediately for the airport, said a spokesman for the Japanese embassy in Beijing, adding both sides would now consult their governments.
"The talks have finished for today and there will be more bilateral talks held," a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation said.
The discussions -- held the same day China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) -- had been "very intensive", the Japanese embassy spokesman said.
"Although they have not reached any concrete agreement, we belive there is still time to resolve this," he said.
The latter part of the talks, which ended at 1:40 pm (0540 GMT), involved only the three ministers, Chinese foreign trade minister Shi Guangsheng, and Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tsutomu Takebe, he added.
Hiranuma told reporters upon his return to Tokyo: "Basically, we have come to terms on several points. Although we could not reach an agreement, I believe we have moved forward somewhat."
"China joined the WTO only today. We will report the contents of the discussions to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and make assessment by weighing the situation as it is," he said.
The dispute began in April when Japan slapped 200-day import restrictions on three farm imports -- spring onions, shiitake mushrooms and rushes used to make traditional Japanese tatami mats -- mostly imported from China.
China struck back in June by imposing 100 percent punitive tariffs on imports of Japanese motor vehicles, air conditioners and mobile phones.
(China Daily December 12, 2001)
