TOKYO - Japanese and Chinese experts will meet in Beijing next week to discuss how to bring their historical understandings more in line, officials said Monday.

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Experts from both sides will have their first meeting December 26-27 in Beijing, the Japanese government announced. Each side will have 10 experts on the panel.

The meeting is part of an effort to resolve conflicts between the two nations over the interpretation of Japan's invasion and occupation of parts of China before and during World War II. Chinese have frequently claimed that Japanese schools whitewash the nation's militarist past.

But the discussions would also delve into ancient history and touch on sensitive issues in recent Chinese history.

"Since it covers modern history, I think there will be a broad discussion," Japanese government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki said.

The Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers agreed last month to conduct a joint study of their disputed wartime history and issue results by the end of 2008.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, decided to set up two teams of experts to study ancient, wartime and modern history.

Relations between the two Asian giants had been strained by territorial disputes and visits by Japanese leaders to a Tokyo shrine that many see as a symbol of Japan's pre-1945 militarism.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Beijing soon after assuming office in September to try to mend the rifts, and the two governments have vowed to cooperate more closely on resolving their differences.

Abe told reporters Monday that it is a "positive thing" for both countries that experts will discuss history in a calm manner. "It is important that experts will conduct their academic discussions about various misunderstandings," he said.