Japan and China agreed to boost people-to-people exchanges on Thursday during the first talks between their consular officials in three years, the Foreign Ministry said in Tokyo.

The two countries also agreed during the talks in Tokyo to expedite visa processing for Chinese tourists visiting Japan who are growing in number, ministry officials said.

Japan and China previously held consular talks in March 2012 in Beijing.

The latest talks between senior officials in charge of consular affairs follow an accord struck between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April on the sidelines of a regional conference in Jakarta to promote various exchanges to rebuild trust between the two countries.

Bilateral relations have been strained over territory disputes and differing views on wartime history.

In the talks, Japan and China shared the view that expanding people-to-people exchanges in recent years has helped increase mutual understanding between the two nations, the ministry said.

Both sides agreed to cooperate closely in facilitating smoother immigration procedures, according to the officials.

Japan also told China of its steps to improve the situation for foreign trainees, including Chinese nationals, under the government-authorized technical training program, and sought Beijing's understanding and support on the matter, the officials said.

Japan's explanation comes in the wake of criticism that some Japanese companies have been exploiting foreign trainees by not paying them properly or by violating their human rights.