SHANGHAI, Sept. 28 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi agreed Monday that the two countries will work together toward the creation of an "East Asian community," with Okada expressing hope that such an initiative will make the 21st century an "era of Asia."
During a meeting in Shanghai, Okada and Yang did not discuss details of an East Asian community, such as membership, but Yang said China wants to promote regional cooperation in energy and the environment in that framework, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry official.
Okada and Yang also agreed to advance the two nations' "strategic and mutually beneficial relations," and to continue efforts to address pending issues such as food safety and a dispute over gas field development in the East China Sea.
