Spy plane talks begin between US and China

The United States and China have moved a step closer to the return of a stranded American spy plane.

A new round of talks began on Saturday on how to ship it home, the US embassy in Beijing says.

Four US technicians met Chinese foreign ministry officials to discuss technical details of the return.

The two sides may meet again on Sunday.

Saturday's meeting follows a tentative deal announced last week to dismantle the Navy EP-3E and fly it to the United States aboard a giant Russian-designed cargo aircraft.

The spy plane has been sitting at the Chinese air base on Hainan Island, where it made an emergency landing April 1 after a collision with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea.