Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister, Akitaka Saiko, was visiting Beijing on Monday for discussions aimed at easing tensions over a territorial dispute between the two Asian neighbours, Kyodo news agency reported.
Saiko, who assumed the post in late June, may also discuss a possible meeting between the Chinese and Japanese leaders during his two-day trip, Kyodo quoted unnamed sources as saying.
China has refused a summit meeting until Japan acknowledges a dispute over the Senkaku Islands, which China claims under the name of Diaoyu, Kyodo reported. Japan nationalized three of the islands in September last year.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said following upper house elections earlier this month that Japan was “always open for dialogue” with Beijing.