On March 10, 2011, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at request held a telephone conversation with Japan's new Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto. Yang congratulated Takeaki Matsumoto on his taking office as Foreign Minister. Both sides exchanged views on bilateral ties, agreeing to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and continuously advance the development of China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relationship.

Yang also reiterated China's principled position on the East China Sea issue.