Senior officials tried to ease territorial tensions as a dramatic confrontation between Chinese activists and Japanese vessels took place.
Xi meets with Japanese ruling party leader
New faces in Beijing, Tokyo may help mend ties
The fishing vessel of a group of activists from Taiwan was obstructed on Thursday by Japanese coast guard ships in the waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands, but failed to make a landing.
Before Japan's New Komeito Party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi's Beijing trip, China Daily Tokyo Bureau Chief Cai Hong interviewed Hiroshi Ishikawa, director of First China and Mongolia Division of Japan's Foreign Ministry.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday stressed that communication between China and Japan could help in problem solution as a Japanese politician came to Beijing trying to "pave the way for dialogue."
A leading member of the Japanese government arrived in Beijing on Tuesday in a bid to ease tension over the Diaoyu Islands.Talks stressed to break stalemate
Japan values its relations with China
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday claimed that the Diaoyu Islands were under the administrative authority of Japan, and therefore the US-Japan Security Treaty applies to it.
Beijing blasted Washington's latest intervention in the Diaoyu Islands issue on Sunday, warning the US to be "responsible" and "choose its words carefully". US sends wrong signal over islands issue Special: Diaoyu Islands Dispute
China has urged the US side to adopt a responsible attitude in regard to the issue of Diaoyu Islands.China urges talks with Japan over islets Special: Diaoyu Islands Dispute
A fleet of three Chinese marine surveillance ships continued to patrol territorial waters off China's Diaoyu Islands Saturday, according to the SOA.
A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry Friday accused Japan of creating tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, running against the trend of solving disputes through talks.
Ex-Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama visited a memorial for victims of Japanese wartime aggression, but analysts said Tokyo won't change its China policies.
China urges Japanese efforts to improve ties
A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry urged Japan to make concrete efforts and take effective measures to resolve tensions over the Diaoyu Islands.
Japanese PM's regional trip 'targets China' China alert to Diaoyu Islands escalation