Diplomacy, defense top future agenda

TOKYO: China and Japan yesterday pledged to intensify efforts to have more diplomatic dialogue and defensive cooperation apart from high-level economic talks and mutual support for peaceful development.

China has lifted the ban on rice imports from Japan, and the two countries will continue to work on the trade in agriculture products.

These are parts of the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship detailed in a joint press statement the two countries released yesterday after Premier Wen Jiabao met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.