• Gyeongju summit marks 1st meeting between Chinese, Japanese leaders since Takaichi was elected last weekJapanese premier raises issues of Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong, disputed islands, as well as North Korea, in talks with Xi

ISTANBUL

China’s President Xi Jinping and Japan’s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday sought stable and mutually beneficial bilateral ties during their first summit.

The two leaders met for about 30 minutes in South Korea's southeastern city of Gyeongju, on the sidelines of a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

According to details shared by the Tokyo-based Kyodo News, Takaichi said Japan and China were “responsible for regional and global peace and prosperity.”

During her talks with Xi, she vowed to address Japan-China issues and deepen mutual understanding, seeking “strategic and mutually beneficial” ties, it added.

Takaichi also urged Xi to protect Japanese nationals in China.

Xi reciprocated Takaichi’s comments, calling for “stable and constructive” bilateral relations.

“Better China-Japan ties (are) good for both peoples and international community,” said Xi, according to Kyodo.

Calling Japan a “strategically important partner,” Xi said he hoped that the ties between the two neighbors will “get back on right track.”

Takaichi also conveyed "concern" over China's export control measures, as well as the disputed Senkaku Islands, known as Diaoyu Islands by Beijing.

Both sides stressed the importance of crisis management in defense issues, the report by Kyodo said.

The “long-term, healthy, and stable development” of China-Japan relations would meet “the expectation of the people of both countries and the international community," Xi said, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

Beijing is willing to cooperate with Tokyo to ”safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, and build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era,” said Xi, according to a statement posted by Mao on US social media company X.

'Concern over human rights' in Xinjiang, Hong Kong

Takaichi voiced "serious concerns over human rights" issue in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, as well as in the semi-autonomous region of Hong Kong, in talks with Xi, according to Kyodo News.

Beijing has in the past pushed back on such issues, calling it interference in China's internal affairs.

The two leaders also "exchanged views" on the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, it added.

Takaichi said "stable" relations between China and Taiwan are "key for regional stability."

Takaichi, a China hawk, posted a photo of herself with Xi on US social media company X early Friday, stating that she had exchanged greetings with the Chinese leader.

Later, Takaichi posted a photo with Lin Hsin-i, head of the Taiwanese delegation to the APEC, saying she exchanged greetings with him.

Takaichi was elected the first prime minister of Japan last week.

In her first policy address to the Japanese parliament, Takaichi said China was an "important neighbor," while she has pledged to boost defense spending.

Ahead of her meeting with Xi, Takaichi hosted US President Donald Trump in Tokyo this week, where the two sides vowed to strengthen their alliance.

In their first phone call, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday asked his new Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi to take a “good first step” toward constructive engagement with Beijing.

"Issues related to history and (the) Taiwan question bear on the foundation of bilateral relations and the basic trust between the two sides," Wang said. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, whereas Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

While Japan and China have had a difficult past, the bilateral ties have improved over the years, and the bilateral trade volume climbed to around $292.6 billion last year.