As more and more countries adopt restrictions on imports of Japanese products, the Tokyo government has announced plans to dialogue with business groups abroad regarding concerns about the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Briefings for importers and shipping agents in major capitals will be conducted by Japanese diplomats who will explain the crisis at the Fukushima facility and measures taken to prevent the distribution of contaminated goods in the markets, media reports in Tokyo said.

The move is a follow-up to the briefing held late in March for representatives of some 200 foreign companies holding office in Japan on the same topics.

As explained by government officials, Japan, through the briefings starting this week, will accelerate efforts to "disseminate correct information" about the nuclear plant accident and the safety of agricultural and industrial products exported by Japan.

Japanese missions are expected to meet with business executives in London, Beijing, and Shanghai this week. Similar dialogues will be held in the coming weeks in the U.S., Hong Kong, and European capitals, the Tokyo officials' announcement last weekend said.

Additionally, the Japanese government also aims to "better inform" other countries' government officials, intellectuals, and media representatives, the news agency Kyodo said.

Japan last week reached out to China by "fully disclosing" data on radioactive substances that the Fukushima plant has emitted and by explaining measures to prevent the distribution of contaminated products, Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto told a press conference in Tokyo.

"For both Japan and China, it is not desirable that their economic activities shrink" due to declines in trade caused by the nuclear crisis, Matsumoto was quoted by Kyodo as saying.

"We have to make sure our own (screening) steps are sufficient," he added.

In Beijing, meanwhile, Chinese Commerce Ministry representative Yao Jian said that China has imposed restrictions on all food and farm products from Japan to ensure product safety is "appropriate."

China banned food and agricultural imports from Fukushima, Tokyo and 10 other prefectures, and now requires importers to present Japan-issued documents such as certificates for radioactivity-free inspection and for places of origin, the Kyodo report said.

Because no central government office issues such documents, Beijing's move effectively suspended all food and farm imports from Japan.

With purchases of about 55 billion yen (about US$678 million) worth of Japanese farm and fishery exports last year, China was the fourth-largest market for such products, according to the Kyodo report.

About 60 countries and regions reportedly have introduced import restrictions on Japanese products over radiation contamination fears.