Japan, Mongolia to launch talks on free trade, rare earths
Japan and Mongolia are expected to agree on starting talks on a bilateral free-trade deal next week that would include a stable supply of rare earth minerals, a government official said Friday.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Mongolia's President Tsakhia Elbegdorj are expected to agree on the launch of the trade talks early next year when they meet next week in Tokyo, a foreign ministry official told reporters.
Japan has worked to strengthen ties with the resource-rich Mongolia amid the rise of their powerful neighbour China and concerns over the supply of rare earth minerals, of which Beijing controls more than 95 percent.
Elbegdorj will arrive in Japan next Monday for a five-day visit including talks with Kan and with trade minister Akihiro Ohata, and a visit to Nippon Steel Corp.'s plant, the official said.
Kan and Elbegdorj will also discuss "ways to cooperate in development of mineral resources in Mongolia, including rare earth minerals" crucial for Japan's manufacturing of high-tech products, he said.
Tokyo has accused China of restricting shipments of rare earths -- elements used in high-tech products from iPods to cars -- since a September maritime incident in disputed waters sparked a bitter diplomatic row.
China has denied any embargo, but a Japanese trade ministry survey in October found that all 31 companies handling rare earths in Japan had reported disruption to shipments.
Rocky relations between China and Japan led to the cancellation of a planned meeting between the two countries' premiers at a Southeast Asian summit last month.
There are no definite plans for their leaders to hold bilateral meetings at the G20 or at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Yokohama this weekend, officials in each country have said.
"I heard it's under coordination," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters Friday, asked if the meeting between Kan and Chinese President Hu Jintao will take place at the APEC summit.
In a bid to diversify Japan's supply of the crucial minerals, Kan last month agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung that Vietnam will help to supply Japan with rare earth minerals.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Mongolia's President Tsakhia Elbegdorj are expected to agree on the launch of the trade talks early next year when they meet next week in Tokyo, a foreign ministry official told reporters.
Japan has worked to strengthen ties with the resource-rich Mongolia amid the rise of their powerful neighbour China and concerns over the supply of rare earth minerals, of which Beijing controls more than 95 percent.
Elbegdorj will arrive in Japan next Monday for a five-day visit including talks with Kan and with trade minister Akihiro Ohata, and a visit to Nippon Steel Corp.'s plant, the official said.
Kan and Elbegdorj will also discuss "ways to cooperate in development of mineral resources in Mongolia, including rare earth minerals" crucial for Japan's manufacturing of high-tech products, he said.
Tokyo has accused China of restricting shipments of rare earths -- elements used in high-tech products from iPods to cars -- since a September maritime incident in disputed waters sparked a bitter diplomatic row.
China has denied any embargo, but a Japanese trade ministry survey in October found that all 31 companies handling rare earths in Japan had reported disruption to shipments.
Rocky relations between China and Japan led to the cancellation of a planned meeting between the two countries' premiers at a Southeast Asian summit last month.
There are no definite plans for their leaders to hold bilateral meetings at the G20 or at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Yokohama this weekend, officials in each country have said.
"I heard it's under coordination," Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters Friday, asked if the meeting between Kan and Chinese President Hu Jintao will take place at the APEC summit.
In a bid to diversify Japan's supply of the crucial minerals, Kan last month agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung that Vietnam will help to supply Japan with rare earth minerals.
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