During upcoming talks in Beijing, Japanese officials will urge for a prompt resolution to the ongoing disagreement with China regarding disputed gas fields in the East China Sea. Despite recent improvements in relations between the two countries, the issue remains unresolved. The Japanese foreign ministry hopes that China will make a political decision to reach a final agreement on the matter, emphasizing the importance of finding a solution. Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura is expected to bring up the issue during discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Saturday. Subsequent discussions will cover topics such as macroeconomic policies, Beijing's currency reforms, climate change, and trade and investment following the recent talks. The 11th round of discussions on developing natural gas in the East China Sea concluded without progress, leading to concerns that the dispute could impact Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's planned visit to China. However, China refuted this claim, stating that the gas dispute was not a prerequisite for Fukuda's visit, which is expected to take place later this year or early in 2008. Both sides had previously agreed to report on a compromise to their leaders in the autumn. "This is the moment for us to increase our efforts," he stated. "It is not just about the economic consequences, but also about Japanese public perception." Both parties are keen on obtaining new oil and gas resources, but they have conflicting opinions on the exact location of the maritime boundary that separates their exclusive economic zones. China's state-owned CNOOC Ltd announced in April that they had started gas production from the Tianwaitian field and were prepared to start production from the larger Chunxiao field in the vicinity. This has sparked concerns in Japan, which lacks natural resources, that such production could divert gas from what they consider to be their side of the zone.