Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida have held talks in Beijing. Kishida is paying an official visit to China from Friday to Sunday, the first by a Japanese foreign minister in four-and-a-half years. During their talks, Wang Yi said China hopes that Kishida's visit will play a positive role in actual improvement of China-Japan ties.

BEIJING, April 30, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Beijing, capital of China, April 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

"China-Japan relations went through twists and turns in recent years, due to reasons best known by Japan. We have seen the Japanese side repeatedly expressing its hope of improving the bilateral relationship over recent period of time. You have also shown your willingness to take the first step. If you come with sincerity we welcome you. As the Chinese saying goes, we should make a judgement based on not only what people say but also what they do. I am ready to listen to your opinion about how to improve bilateral relations, and equally important, is whether the Japanese side will turn its words into deeds," Wang said.

Wang stressed that China-Japan ties must be based on respect for history, adherence to commitment, and on cooperation rather than confrontation. He added that China is willing to develop a healthy and stable relationship with Japan. The Chinese Foreign Minister also expressed sympathy to Japan over the deadly earthquakes in mid-April.