China has urged Japan to make sincere efforts to mend bilateral ties, Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated here Friday that Japan-China relations remain one of the most important bilateral relations of Japan and should be improved through an overall perspective.
Japan announced on Friday that it will revise two defense programs, seeking to strengthen its military capabilities.
Tensions between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands dispute have escalated after the recent incidents involving the two countries' vessels and planes.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party Friday morning in Beijing.
Senior officials tried to ease territorial tensions as a dramatic confrontation between Chinese activists and Japanese vessels took place.
Xi meets with Japanese ruling party leader
New faces in Beijing, Tokyo may help mend ties
Before Japan's New Komeito Party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi's Beijing trip, China Daily Tokyo Bureau Chief Cai Hong interviewed Hiroshi Ishikawa, director of First China and Mongolia Division of Japan's Foreign Ministry.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday stressed that communication between China and Japan could help in problem solution as a Japanese politician came to Beijing trying to "pave the way for dialogue."
A leading member of the Japanese government arrived in Beijing on Tuesday in a bid to ease tension over the Diaoyu Islands.Talks stressed to break stalemate
Japan values its relations with China
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday claimed that the Diaoyu Islands were under the administrative authority of Japan, and therefore the US-Japan Security Treaty applies to it.
Beijing blasted Washington's latest intervention in the Diaoyu Islands issue on Sunday, warning the US to be "responsible" and "choose its words carefully". US sends wrong signal over islands issue Special: Diaoyu Islands Dispute
China has urged the US side to adopt a responsible attitude in regard to the issue of Diaoyu Islands.China urges talks with Japan over islets Special: Diaoyu Islands Dispute