Japan looking closely at US-China talks: spokesman

"We will watch [the talks] with great interest, fully examine their impacts and respond appropriately," Hayashi, Japan's top government spokesman, told a press conference.

On the Japan-U.S. working-level discussions that the two countries decided to hold during their ministerial talks, Hayashi said a section chief-level meeting was held on Friday but refrained from commenting in detail.

"Our government will work as one [on trade negotiations with the United States] with the highest priority and utmost efforts," Hayashi stressed.