Japanese and Chinese officials have begun talks on resuming imports of processed poultry products from China. Japan has banned such imports since the bird flu broke out across Asia.

Discussions are to be limited to the resumption of imports of poultry products that have been treated with heat to ensure that the flu virus has been destroyed.

It has also been reported Japan and Thailand have agreed to lift the ban on the import of processed poultry products from Thailand. So far, the agreement is restricted to products that have been treated with heat. Thailand is the top and China the third supplier of poultry products to Japan.

(CCTV February 15, 2004)