Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Monday that it is normal for Chinese research ships to conduct scientific investigation in the East China Sea in accordance with international law and practice.
During talks on Monday with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, who arrived earlier Monday for a four-day official visit, Tang expounded on China's stance on the scientific investigation by Chinese ships in the disputed waters that involve China and Japan.
He pointed out that the core of the matter is that China and Japan have not yet reached a common understanding on the demarcation of boundary lines in the East China Sea.
The two ministers believe it is important for the two countries to safeguard friendship and increase mutual trust, therefore they agreed in principle that either side might inform the other in the future about its scientific investigation activities in the disputed waters.
Tang stressed that mutual information is an independent act of either side, which would not affect China's position on the demarcation of boundary lines in the East China Sea.
The two ministers agreed that discussions would be held through diplomatic channels about the specific principle and content for mutual information.
(Xinhua 08/28/2000)
