China and Japan will continue investigations into the dumpling poisoning case in an effort to find the truth at an early date, Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday.

China attaches great importance to food safety and the people's health, said the visiting Chinese president at a joint press conference after his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

The departments concerned of the Chinese government have conducted serious and thorough investigations into the case and made timely exchange of views with the relevant Japanese departments, Hu said.

The dumpling poisoning incident, which resulted in 10 people falling ill in Japan, came to light in late January. Investigators from both countries have worked together to find the cause.

Investigators inspected the manufacturer, Tianyang Food Plant in Hebei Province, but found nothing irregular. They also found no problems related to the purchase of raw materials or the production process.

China also sent two groups of experts to Japan for joint investigations.

After a thorough investigation, the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in late February that this dumpling poisoning is an individual, deliberate incident, not a case of food safety resulting from pesticide residue.

The incident is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)