China will hold another round of maritime talks with Japan this week on the issues of common concerns.

China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said the fifth round of high-level consultation between Beijing and Tokyo on maritime-related issues would be held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Senior officials from the foreign affairs, defense and maritime affairs ministries of both country will take part in the dialogue.

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"The mechanism of high-level consultation on maritime affairs is a comprehensive mechanism for communication and coordination between China and Japan on maritime affairs," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said during a daily press briefing in Beijing. "The Chinese side looks forward to a thorough exchange of views with the Japanese side on maritime issues of common interest during the consultation, in a bid to build mutual trust and understanding," she added.

The talks come amid rising tensions in the East China Sea. Last week, Japan expressed concern over the presence of four Chinese naval vessels in its territorial waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The uninhabited Senkaku Islands, located in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, has long been the center of a territorial dispute between two Asian giants. Beijing claims ownership of the disputed islands, which are currently under the control of Tokyo. The Japanese government recently announced its plan to deploy an advanced version of the medium-range surface-to-air Type 03 Chu-Sam missile near the disputed islands to counter China's growing military influence in contested area. 

Tagschina, Japan, East China Sea, East China Sea dispute, maritime dispute