Vice Premier Wang Yang criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tough stance toward China in a meeting with Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe but expressed hope of improving bilateral relations.
"Japanese politicians should refrain from taking actions that would disturb cooperation between the two countries," Masuzoe quoted Wang as telling him during a one-hour meeting Saturday.
Wang specifically mentioned Abe's visit in December to war-related Yasukuni Shrine as the most problematic issue, said Masuzoe, who held a news conference in Beijing to wrap up his three-day visit there.