China and Japan have agreed to hold a new round of consultations on the East China Sea gas issue in Beijing at an early date to resolve their gas dispute, said an official of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.

The agreement came after informal talks at a working level held Monday morning between Cui Tiankai, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department and Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau, the Japanese official said anonymously.
“Both sides agreed that the fourth round of negotiations will be held as soon as possible, perhaps in late January or early February, around China’s Spring Festival holiday,” he said. “The Chinese officials said they were studying the issue and planned to present a new plan at the next meeting,” he added.
Nobuyori Kodaira, director general of Japan’s Natural Resources and Energy Agency, also took part in the talks, according to the official. The two sides also reviewed current bilateral ties and other issues, expressing their will to improve chilly relations, according to the official.
China and Japan have held three rounds of consultations on the East China Sea issue since October 2004. The third round was held from September 30 to October 1 last year in Tokyo, during which the two sides exchangd views.