Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to strengthen communication at all levels during their first meeting since the Japanese leader took office in October.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in their first meeting that China hoped Japan would "properly handle" major issues such as history and Taiwan,

Chinese president Xi Jinping told Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba that he hoped Japan would “properly” handle issues such as history and Taiwan after Tokyo expressed concerns about Beijing's “increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres".

LIMA (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to foster "mutually beneficial" and "stable" relations in their first in-person talks.

LIMA--Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping here on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

In their first meeting, China's President Xi Jinping and Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed key bilateral issues, including historical disputes and the ongoing Taiwan situation. Both leaders emphasized the need to safeguard the global free trade system while Ishiba raised concerns about Chinese maritime activities and called for the release of detained Japanese nationals.

It is hoped Japan will ‘properly handle’ major issues including Taiwan, Xi Jinping tells Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Apec margins.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to reaffirm the policy to advance the “strategic and mutually beneficial relationship” between their countries in their first meeting on Nov.