Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing on Friday that Japan's accusation regarding the East China Sea issue is unfounded.

Liu's remarks came after Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reporters on Thursday that China should take a more positive stance in the East China Sea talks.

Liu said China has always taken a positive and pragmatic attitude in the talks and put forward fair and reasonable proposals.

China is not responsible for not having achieved substantial progress of the talks so far, and Japan's blame is unfounded, Liu said.

The latest round of talks between China and Japan on the East China Sea issue concluded in Beijing on Thursday night, with the two sides agreeing to hold next round of talks in early November.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2007)