Mistrust remains despite China-Japan security talks: envoy
Thaw in relations brings return to dialogue between China and Japan, but a lack of trust is an obstacle to progress, envoy says
A lack of trust remained despite a thaw in relations between China and Japan ahead of security talks this month, Beijing's envoy to Japan said on Friday.
Cheng Yonghua said he hoped the two nations could boost mutual trust through talks, which have been disrupted over the past year amid a territorial dispute between the two countries over islands in the East China Sea.
The two nations will exchange views about military and security policies this month, Cheng told reporters on the sidelines of the annual meeting in Beijing of China's main political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao would in late March visit Japan for the security talks and South Korea for "diplomatic dialogue".
For all the latest news from China’s parliamentary sessions click here
Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Thursday that Japan would explain its self-defence policies to China, but would also demand that Beijing increase transparency about its military budget and the development of aircraft carriers.
China and Japan are locked in a dispute over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkakus in Japan.
