Japanese FM seeks closer ties with China

TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Tuesday that Japan will seek to take a less inward-looking stance when it comes to diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Specifically he said that Japan will look to enhance diplomatic ties with China based on mutually beneficial goals.

"With China, this year marks the 40th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties. We will aim to deepen the mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests," Gemba said Tuesday in his first foreign policy speech in parliament.

He went on to say that Japan plans to proactively make "concrete efforts" to strengthen its ties with China and establish more "open and multilayered networks" in the best interests of both countries.