(VOVworld) – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his visiting Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida held talks in Beijing on Saturday morning.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2016.(Photo: Xinhua)

During the opening remarks, Wang emphasized that China-Japan ties must be based on respect for history, adherence to commitment, and on cooperation rather than confrontation. Wang said that China is willing to develop a healthy and stable relationship with Japan. He expressed his hope that Kishida’s visit will play a positive role in actual improvement of China-Japan ties. Kishida expressed his hope that the two countries will pay more high-level political visits in the future.

Kishida is expected to hold talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to discuss bilateral economic cooperation.

Kishida is paying an official visit to China from Friday to Sunday, the first by Kishida since he took office over three years ago and a Japanese foreign minister in four-and-a-half years. China is the first leg of his eight-day trip that will also take him to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.