Beijing, May 24 (Jiji Press) — The Japanese and Chinese governments have launched bureau-chief-level talks on a new cooperation framework to replace Japan’s official development assistance program for China, which is slated to end in fiscal 2021.

The first session of the talks was held in Beijing on Thursday, attended by Kazuya Nashida, director-general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s International Cooperation Bureau, and Tian Lin, director-general of the China International Development Cooperation Agency’s Department of International Cooperation, among other officials from both sides.

The participants exchanged views on priorities in their governments’ development cooperation policies and the implementation of the policies, while agreeing to continue related personnel exchanges.