Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has exchanged views with former Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on the Senkakus row, which is continuing to escalate some four months after Tokyo moved to effectively nationalize the islet cluster.
Hatoyama did not reveal details about the talks Tuesday in Beijing, apparently due to the sensitivity of the issue, but the two are believed to have discussed how best to improve bilateral relations soured by the dispute. Tang currently serves as president of the China-Japan Friendship Association.
Hatoyama began a four-day visit to China on Tuesday, during which he was scheduled to hold talks Wednesday with Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, according to a member of the delegation.
Known for his pro-China stance, Hatoyama also plans to visit Nanjing from Wednesday evening through Thursday before returning to Japan on Friday, the member said.
In Nanjing, he hopes to visit a memorial dedicated to victims of the 1937 massacre by Imperial Japanese Army soldiers.
