The United States has presented to Japan an account for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps command from Okinawa to Guam, Kyodo News quoted Japanese government sources as saying Saturday.

According to the sources, the United States has officially set the total estimated costs for constructing facilities necessary for the relocation at about 8 billion U.S. dollars, and is asking Japan to pay 75 percent, while Japan expects a more detailed account.

The preparation of facilities in Guam could begin in March 2007 if the two sides could reach an accord right away on the sharing of expenses, the sources said.

Senior foreign affairs and defense officials from the two countries met in Tokyo from Thursday through Saturday for a working-level discussions on the troops relocation plans.

Last October, Japan and the United States agreed to finalize in March the realignment package on transferring 7,000 Marine troops out of Okinawa, but the Japanese government has not been fully successful in convincing a number of local governments to accept the plans.

Source: Xinhua