Senior Japanese and Chinese diplomats agreed Monday to work on holding high-level talks, including mutual visits by their foreign ministers, to mend the strained bilateral relationship.
Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama met with Kong Xuanyou, China's assistant foreign minister, to talk about pending issues, including a response to North Korea's recent long-range rocket launch and nuclear test.
It was the first visit by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official to Japan since North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test Jan. 6.