Talks open with China to lay summit groundwork

Japan and China began sub-Cabinet-level talks Saturday in Tokyo to pave the way for a summit after the Shinzo Abe administration comes into power.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20060924a2a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='131'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B> Chinese –

and Japanese officials open two days of policy talks in Tokyo on Saturday. KYODO PHOTO

Arranging a meeting between Abe, who is set to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday, and President Hu Jintao is expected to be the main topic of the planned two-day talks, according to Foreign Ministry officials.