TOKYO - JAPAN and China agreed on Friday to conduct their first joint military training exercise, in the latest sign of warming ties between the Asian neighbours, long marked by mutual suspicion and spats over a range of issues.

But Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa maintained the pressure on China's visiting defence minister for more openness about ballooning military spending, a particular concern for Tokyo.

Mr Kitazawa and his Chinese opposite number, Mr Liang Guanglie, agreed that their countries' armed forces would hold a joint search and rescue exercise at sea - their first joint exercise. The two sides would also discuss further joint training in humanitarian assistance and disaster rescue.

'I strongly believe that the agreement between China and Japan to conduct a joint rescue drill at sea clearly indicates tremendous progress in mutual understanding and trust between the two countries,' Mr Kitazawa told a joint news conference.

The uniformed Mr Liang told reporters: 'We have openly exchanged our ideas without any hesitation and agreed upon various goals by sharing issues and concerns.' In a joint press statement, they added that Kitazawa would visit China next year as part of a growing range of military exchanges, including visits by naval vessels.

But Mr Kitazawa later told reporters he had pressed Mr Liang to follow Japan's example of openness, including by issuing a defence white paper giving details of its military spending and equipment. Mr Hatoyama also called for more openness in his meeting with Liang, the foreign ministry said.