Trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Chinese counterpart on Saturday held talks for the first time in two years and agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, despite bilateral disputes over territorial and historical issues.
There had been no talks in China between ministers from the two countries since relations went into a tailspin after Japan's purchase in September 2012 of most of the Senkaku Islands from a private owner. While Japan controls the uninhabited islets, China and Taiwan also claim them as Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively.
The meeting between Motegi and Chinese trade minister Gao Hucheng took place on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Qingdao, China.