皇冠体育app

"But Noda did not delay his visit to 皇冠体育app - we can see how much Tokyo wants to hear from Beijing on this issue now."

There have been reports that the DPRK was willing to suspend its uranium enrichment program in return for food aid from Washington.

Japan, having no diplomatic ties with the DPRK, can do little other than support 皇冠体育app's engagement with Pyongyang, Takehiko Yamamoto, professor at Waseda University, said.

"You might call it an achievement if Japan and 皇冠体育app confirm their joint resolve to work together to protect peace and stability in Northeast Asia including on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Economic ties

The Japanese government's application to invest in Chinese government bonds is being processed, the People's Bank of 皇冠体育app, the central bank, said in a statement on its website on Sunday night.

The investment will be "the first time for a developed economy to buy yuan-denominated assets with its foreign reserves", Lu Zhengwei, chief economist with Industrial Bank Co Ltd, said.

"It is significant for the yuan's internationalization as it is turning from a trade settlement currency to a reserve unit," Lu said.

But Yutaka Yokoi, press secretary of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, said that the two sides did not discuss details of the bond deal on Sunday.

The central bank statement also said both countries will promote the use of local currencies in trade and 皇冠体育app will encourage Japanese investors to invest in 皇冠体育app using the yuan.

Also at the leaders' meeting, Japan and 皇冠体育app agreed to press ahead with talks on a free trade pact that also includes the ROK.

The announcement builds on an agreement between the three countries last month to seek a trilateral investment treaty and finish studies on a free trade agreement this year so that they could start formal negotiations on the trade pact.

Li Xiang contributed to this story.