A delegation of more than 100 executives from leading Japanese firms arrived Monday in Beijing to promote greater economic cooperation with China but was denied meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping or Premier Li Keqiang, a bilateral source said.
At a time when no tangible progress has been made in improving diplomatic relations, the Japan-China Economic Association said it is instead scheduled to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, who is in charge of commercial affairs, on Tuesday afternoon.
The visit, led by Fujio Cho, Toyota Motor Corp.'s honorary chairman, is the biggest business delegation to go to China since bilateral ties began unraveling more than a year ago over ownership of a group of small islets claimed by both Japan and China.