A delegation of around 200 executives from major Japanese firms arrived Monday in Beijing with the hope of opening a path for improved bilateral relations.

The visit comes less than two months before China hosts a regional summit during which the top political leaders of the two countries might have a chance to hold official talks for the first time.

The visit by the Japan-China Economic Association, led by Fujio Cho, Toyota Motor Corp. honorary chairman, is the largest business mission to go to Beijing since bilateral ties were severely strained two years ago by renewed tensions over a group of small islands that Japan, China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over.