China and Japan will hold their ninth strategic dialogue in Tokyo on January 9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang announced on Monday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka will head delegations to attend the dialogue, respectively, said Qin.

The two sides will exchange views on bilateral ties and other international and regional issues, according to the spokesman.

So far China and Japan have held eight rounds of strategic dialogues. The last round was held in Beijing in February of 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2009)