Investment in disputed islands unclear

BEIJING - The Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of Chinese investment in a Russian-held island claimed by Japan.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that Russian and Chinese companies agreed earlier this month to launch a joint venture to farm sea cucumbers off one of the four disputed islands near the northeast coast of Japan's Hokkaido prefecture.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu on Tuesday said that the Chinese government had nothing to do with any such business deal.