Japan prime minister may visit China in early May

Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama is considering visiting China in early May to meet president Hu Jintao, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.                                           

Hatoyama would likely meet Hu in Shanghai to discuss issues such as the two countries' dispute over gas field development in the East China Sea, North Korea's nuclear weapons and cooperation on food safety, the Nikkei said, without citing sources.                                           

The trip would coincide with the opening of the Shanghai Expo 2010 on May 1, the paper said.                                          

Japanese government officials were not immediately available for comment on Saturday.                                           

Hatoyama, who also visited China in October for a regional summit, has said he wants to build closer ties with Japan's Asian neighbours and has long advocated an East Asian Community with a single currency.                                           

Plans are also being made for Hatoyama to meet with Chinese pemier Wen Jiabao in Beijing, the Nikkei said.                           

Japan has invited Wen for a visit this spring, but that trip could be delayed until June or later if Hatoyama and Wen meet in May, the paper added.