Trade minister Ryosei Akazawa and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had a brief chat on Friday, the first ministerial-level exchange of words between the two nations since a diplomatic standoff started in November.

Akazawa said he approached Wang at a dinner of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation¡¯s trade chiefs in Suzhou, China. He declined to say what they discussed when he spoke to reporters on Saturday.

¡°At the official dinner, as I began walking toward the main table, Minister Wang was sitting there alone,¡± Akazawa said. ¡°I approached him and had a brief conversation with him.¡±