Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda arrived Thursday for a four-day visit, his first official trip to China since being elected three months ago, DPA reported. At the centre of the talks will be climate change, economic cooperation, North Korea's nuclear weapon programme and a sharing of resources in the East China Sea. The two countries have been unable to resolve their ongoing territorial dispute over rich oil and gas deposits in the East China Sea, and before departing Tokyo, Fukuda stressed the need to resolve ''as early as possible'' the bilateral dispute over the resources. Despite Japanese hopes to find a solution before the Fukuda's visit, negotiations have stalled, a high-ranking Japanese official explained. Despite their differences, the official stressed that leaders on both sides "are in full agreement about the final goal - to make the disputed territory a "sea of friendship and cooperation." Experts estimate the deposits in the East China Sea to be 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas and 25 billion tons of crude oil. While China claims its territory extends to the end of the continental shelf near the Japanese island of Okinawa, Japan insists the boundary is halfway between both countries. Fukuda will start political talks on Friday with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, President Hu Jintao and head of China's parliament Wu Bangguo. Both sides will sign agreements on scientific and technological cooperation in efforts against climate change as well as an expansion of youth exchanges.
