On January 24, 2013, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party of Japan in Beijing.

Yang said that the long-term and stable development of China-Japan relations conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and it is also conducive to peace and development in Asia. China attaches great importance to relations with Japan, and advocates developing bilateral relations under the guidance of the spirits of the four political documents between the two countries.

Yang stressed that in order to safeguard the sound and stable China-Japan relations, both sides need to properly handle the Diaoyu Islands and other sensitive issues between the two countries. The two sides should strive to control and resolve relevant issues through dialogue and consultations. He hoped Japan's new government will pursue an active and prudent policy toward China, take concrete action, work together and move in the same direction with China to promote the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.

Yamaguchi said Japan and China share a lot of common interests and bilateral relations are very important to both sides and are also of great significance to peace and stability in Asia and the region. The New Komeito party has always advocated the Japan-China friendship, attaches importance to developing relations with China and holds that the two sides should overcome their differences through dialogue. The New Komeito party is willing to play an active role in improving and developing bilateral relations in the framework of the new government.