Arranging PM Noda's Visit to China

Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers agreed to arrange the concrete schedule for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda 's visit to China this year.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba briefed the media on Thursday in New York after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Yang reportedly expressed hope during the talks about Noda's visit. Gemba told him the prime minister is willing to go.

Gemba says he also called for a resumption of negotiations over a treaty for joint development of natural gas fields in the East China Sea.

Yang replied that China wants to closely communicate with Japan on the matter.

The negotiations have been stalled since last year's collision between Japanese patrol ships and a Chinese fishing boat near the Senkaku Islands.

Gemba said the islands are an integral part of Japanese territory, historically and based on international law. Yang reiterated China's claim for the islands