In the latest move toward a resumption of normal Sino-Japanese relations, Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan are expected to hold talks later this month.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, however, declined to fully elaborate during a regular news briefing on Thursday, saying only that preparations are "under way".

The meeting is to be arranged on the sidelines of a series of summit meetings concerning the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the end of this month in Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters earlier that he believed efforts to create an environment for the talks are "gradually moving in a positive direction".

The informal talks between the two defense chiefs on Monday in Hanoi, he noted, has shown that China is taking a step toward Kan-Wen summit talks.

Akitaka Saiki, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to meet with Wu Dawei, the special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs.

Saiki said the talks would be a "follow-up" to informal talks between the two prime ministers in Brussels earlier this month. Wu also suggested that another summit between the two leaders was possible and is being planned.

Akitaka Saiki said both sides are aiming at practical measures to promote the strategic and mutually beneficial ties.

Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have remained in the headlines after the collision of a Chinese shipping trawler and Japanese patrol vessels off the waters near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

In another development, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is also reaching out to Beijing to revive the six-party talks on its nuclear weapons program.

Kim Gye-gwan, the first vice-minister of the DPRK arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday. It is Kim's first visit to China since his recent promotion to first vice minister from vice minister of the foreign ministry last month.

Kim, the former lead negotiator for the six-party talks, had met with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun respectively. He also held talks with Wu Dawei.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu on Thursday said the two sides exchanged views on common concern in a deep and frank manner.

He repeated China's stance on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issues, urging all parties to exert joint efforts to ease the situation by enhancing contact and dialogue, so as to create opportunities and a favorable atmosphere for the resumption of the talks.

(China Daily October 15, 2010)