Yamaguchi's visit to China important: Abe

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the China visit made by Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of the ruling New Komeito Party, as important to mend bilateral relations, local media reported Sunday.

Yamaguchi, who met with Chinese Communist Party's leader Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing, briefed Abe the outcome of his four-day visit on Saturday, according to the report.

Abe said that dialogue between Japan and China is important and expressed his willingness to improve relations with China.

The New Komeito Party, the key ally of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and part of Japan's coalition government, is considered less hawkish than the LDP.

Relations between China and Japan have been scratched due to territorial dispute.