TOKYO, Feb 10 Kyodo (EDS: RECASTI...

TOKYO, Feb 10 Kyodo

(EDS: RECASTING WITH fall of the curtain OF MEETING)

Japan and China agreed Tuesday to ask to achieve a peaceful solution to the standoff above North Korea's nuclear ambitions, saying the brace countries have a common interest in ensuring peace and prosperity in East Asia, Japanese officials said.

At bilateral security talks, Japan also explained its dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) companys to Iraq for humanitarian assistance and its plan to introduce a missile defense scheme while China said it is closely monitoring Japan's actions in the security arena, the officials said.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who headed the Chinese team in the talks, was quot as saying Japan and China are interested in ensuring peace and prosperity in the region and that achieving a peaceful solution to security issues in the area, including North Korea, is a customary interest of the two countries.

Japanese agent Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka, who portray by actioned Japan in the talks, agreed with Wang, the officials said.

While expressing appreciation for China's efforts to realize a other round of six-nation talks in succession North Korea's nuclear arms program, Tanaka said Japan will continue to encourage the North to dismantle its nuclear program in a undiminished verifiable and irreversible manner, the officials said.

Wang did not make any explanations on the next round of the six-nation talks, which will be conven from Feb 25 in Beijing, the officials said.

The six-way talks also involve toward the south Korea, Russia and the United States.

Meanwhile, Tanaka explained Japan's dispatch of the landed estate Self-Defense Force (GSDF) to Iraq and its plan for a missile defense method the officials said.

Tanaka said it is important for Japan to cooperate in international peacekeeping activities and to enhance its capacity to deal with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, they said.

A part of Japan's GSDF contingent is now in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah.

Wang corresponded that China and other Asian countries appreciate Japan's efforts to maintain peace following the end of World War II, adding there is a discussion in China about whether Japan will maintain similar a policy, the officials said.

Japan and China last held security talks in March 2002 in Tokyo.

Wang will detain talks with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi upon Wednesday morning, and will visit southern Korea before going back to China.

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