BEIJING (Sputnik) — The two countries held several days of sixth round high-level consultations on issues regarding overlapping maritime affairs, eventually agreeing to start work on a defense coordination system as early as possible, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The sides also agreed on increased information sharing when tackling international crime, smuggling and drug trafficking.
China and Japan agreed to enhance cooperation in managing fishing and search and rescue operations at sea, as well as exchanging views on the disputed South China Sea region and agreeing to hold the next round of consultations in the first half of 2017.
Relations between China and Japan became strained in 2012, when Japan purchased three of five privately owned Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. China considers the archipelago to be Chinese territory.
