China has agreed to start formal talks with Japan on a treaty that would allow joint development of gas resources in contested waters between the often-fractious east Asian powers.
The offer of formal talks, made by Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier, during a visit to Tokyo yesterday, suggests Beijing is ready to move forward on long-stalled plans for co-operation in the East China Sea, that are intended to remove one of the biggest sources of friction between Tokyo and Beijing.
The offer was accompanied by bilateral agreements on issues ranging from maritime security to food safety that will fuel hopes of further improvement in a Sino-Japanese relationship.
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