The top Chinese official who was involved in fostering nongovernment ties with Japan met a delegation led by former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on Monday in what appears to be Beijing's latest attempt to mend soured bilateral ties.

The delegates met by former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan included two senior politicians from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Buddhist-backed New Komeito.

The visit by Murayama, who arrived in Beijing earlier in the day, came just days after China's new leader Xi Jinping told a senior Japanese politician that China wants to promote a "strategic relationship of mutual benefit" with Japan.