A joint statement said the two sides exchanged their views ``frankly and in-depth,'' enhanced their mutual understanding and expanded their common ground through the talks.

``Active consultation should be continued to explore ways to resolve the issue and the two sides agreed to have another non-government talk as early as possible,'' said the statement.

The first non-government meeting involving Chinese exporters and Japanese producers was organized in September.

But Japanese officials indicated the issue was unlikely to be resolved in the near future.

At a press conference after the talks, Tanaka Hitoshi, director-general of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau under Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sano Tadakatsu, director-general of Trade Policy Bureau under Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said no ministerial meeting was being arranged at present.

Experts believe a ministerial or higher-level meeting is essential to solving the issue.

Both the two talks in Beijing -- one between July 2 and 4 and the other Thursday -- were limited to department director level.

During a briefing by the Japanese side after the talks, Sano Tadakatsu said ministers of both countries would talk about the issue on the sidelines of their meetings in Brunei on November 5-6 and in Doha, Qatar, between November 9 and 13.

Tanaka Hitoshi said he hoped the issue could be resolved earlier than China's formal entry to the World Trade Organization, widely expected early next year.

Japan started an investigation into imports of onions, mushrooms and tatami rushes, mainly from China, on December 22 and is expected to make a decision on whether to impose protective measures before December 21 unless the government decides to prolong the investigation period.

(China Daily November 2, 2001)