Two days of talks between Chinese and Japanese officials have failed to break the deadlock in the ongoing trade row between the two countries.

Statements issued by the Japanese Embassy and the Chinese authorities after five hours of talks in Beijing said there was "no major progress". However, both sides have agreed to resume talks "as soon as possible", most likely in Japan.

The director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry Economic Affairs Bureau, Mr Hitoshi Tanaka, told a press conference that the two countries agreed on the need not to let the dispute harm the "big framework" of deepening economic and trade ties.

The trading relationship is worth $70 billion (€82.61 billion) a year - and growing. Mr Tanaka said Japan will double its efforts to reach a solution.

On June 22th, China placed 100 per cent tariffs on imports of Japanese motor vehicles, mobile phones and air conditioners. Tokyo's tariffs affect Chinese goods worth $100 million a year, compared to $700 million of Japanese goods shut out of China's market.