Japanese and Chinese experts held a low-key event Tuesday to mark the 35th anniversary of a bilateral treaty of peace and friendship more than two months after the actual date because of the dispute over the Senkaku Islands.

The closed-door symposium in Beijing was attended by people from friendship associations of the two countries, including Uichiro Niwa, who was Japan's ambassador to China from 2010 to 2012.

Due to the strained diplomatic relationship, no official events were held in Beijing on Aug. 12, the anniversary of the treaty signing.