SOUTH KOREA – Chinese president Xi Jinping and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held their first meeting in South Korea’s Gyeongju city at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Friday, seeking mutually beneficial bilateral ties.

The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, and according to details shared by the Tokyo-based Kyodo News, Takaichi said Japan and China were “responsible for regional and global peace and prosperity.”

During her talks with Xi, she vowed to address Japan-China issues and deepen mutual understanding, seeking “strategic and mutually beneficial” ties, it added.

Takaichi also urged Xi to protect Japanese nationals in China.

Xi reciprocated Takaichi’s comments, calling for “stable and constructive” bilateral relations.

“Better China-Japan ties (are) good for both peoples and international community,” said Xi, according to Kyodo.

Calling Japan a “strategically important partner,” Xi said he hoped that the ties between the two neighbors will “get back on right track.”

Takaichi also conveyed “concern” over China’s export control measures, as well as the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu Islands by Beijing.

Both sides stressed the importance of crisis management in defense issues, the report by Kyodo said.

Meanwhile, China’s Xinhua News Agency also reported that Xi said Beijing will “work with Japan for constructive, stable bilateral ties that meet requirements of new era.”

Human Rights Issue

Takaichi voiced “serious concerns over human rights” issue in the Xinjiang province of China, as well as in the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong, in talks with Xi, according to Kyodo News.

Beijing has in past pushed back on such issues, calling it interference into China’s internal affairs.

The two leaders also “exchanged views” on the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, it added.

Takaichi said “stable” relations between China and Taiwan are “key for regional stability.”

Takaichi, a China hawk, posted a photo of herself with Xi on US social media company X early Friday, stating that she had exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader.

Takaichi was elected the first prime minister of Japan last week.

In her first policy address to the Japanese parliament, Takaichi said China was an “important neighbor,” while she has pledged to boost defense spending.

Ahead of her meeting with Xi, Takaichi hosted US President Donald Trump in Tokyo this week, where the two sides vowed to strengthen their alliance.

In their first phone call, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday asked his new Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi to take a “good first step” toward constructive engagement with Beijing.

“Issues related to history and (the) Taiwan question bear on the foundation of bilateral relations and the basic trust between the two sides,” Wang said. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, whereas Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

While Japan and China have had a difficult past, the bilateral ties have improved over the years, and the bilateral trade volume climbed to around $292.6 billion last year.