Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit Beijing on Saturday and Sunday to discuss the outlook for improving Japan-China relations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Ministry has said.
In his talks with Wang on Sunday, Kono is expected to try to lay the groundwork for a long-postponed trilateral summit between Japan, China and South Korea, and subsequent reciprocal visits by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He is also scheduled to meet State Councilor Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat, and members of the country's senior leadership.