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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit Japan in October it emerged yesterday after the leaders of the two countries agreed to pursue high-level contacts to promote regional and international stability.

That would see Wang meeting the new Japanese prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, besides his counterpart in Tokyo, Toshimitsu Motegi.

The visit plan took shape as President Xi Jinping and Suga agreed during a phone conversation on Friday to have more high-level contacts.

Suga, who became prime minister this month, must improve relations with his giant neighbor in a number of areas.

Tokyo is in a dispute with Beijing over ownership of islands in the East China Sea and has expressed concern about an uptick in Chinese military activity in the region. And ties between China and the Tokyo ally the United States remain rocky amid trade friction and Covid-19 strife.

Suga also plans to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in early October, with Pompeo visiting Tokyo for a meeting with counterparts from Australia and India as well as Japan.

The Japanese PM is ready too for telephone conversations with leaders of Russia, France and Italy.

REUTERS

Wang Yi, left, is expected to have talks with Yoshihide Suga. AFP, REUTERS

Tokyo ready to tackle issues with Beijing