BEIJING, July 6: China and Japan began talks today ort a bilateral protocol for China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, hoping to seal a deal during the visit of Japanese Premier Keizo Obuchi later this week, reports AFP.

Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Koichi Haruguchi and Deputy Minister for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Hisamitsu Arai began negotiations with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Long Yongtu. a Japanese official here said.

"It is very important to push the Chinese side for an early accession into the WTO. Our position is that we should not isolate China from the WTO.” he said.

Obuchi will arrive in China for a short two-day visit begin-

ning late Thursday and will meet with China’s top leaders on Friday.

The two sides have already agreed to protocols on trade in goods and are in the final stages of negotiations on an agreement on trade in services, the official said.

If the deal is agreed Japan will be the first Group of Seven nation to officially approve Beijing’s entry into the WTO.

Beijing has appeared reluctant to lift obstacles on foreign access to its service sectors such as distribution, telecommunications and construction markets.

a Japan-China agreement on China's entry into WTO will have a positive impact on stalled bilateral talks between China and the United States,” Ma said.