China, Japan to hold high-level economic talks

BEIJING, Aug 28 AFP China and Japan meet on Saturday for talks expected to touch on trade tensions between the world’s number two and three economies but also North Korea and worries over China’s military ambitions.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada leads a delegation to Beijing that includes five other Cabinet ministers and will meet a Chinese group led by Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

A top priority for Tokyo at the third Japan-China High-level Economic Dialogue will be perceptions of a worsening business environment for Japanese firms in the country, an official with Japan’s government said.

These concerns have been punctuated by recurring labour disputes at foreign-established factories in China in recent months, many of which have hit Japanese manufacturers.

“One of the main topics will be how to improve the business environment for Japanese companies in China so that they can operate,” said the Japanese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.