China concerned over US-Japan joint statement

China Friday expressed grave concerns over a joint statement released by the US and Japan, urging the two countries to discard their "Cold War mindset" and respect the interests and concerns of other countries in the region.

A senior official of China's foreign ministry met US Ambassador to China and Japanese Ambassador to China respectively to lodge solemn representations over the joint statement, Xinhua quoted ministry's spokesperson Qin Gang saying in a press release Friday night.

Earlier Friday, Qin told a daily press briefing that China has "grave concerns" over some of the contents in the US-Japan joint statement.

"It will be detrimental to the proper solution of relevant issues and the stability of the region to make indiscreet criticisms or remarks on the affairs of other countries," Qin said.

The US and Japan issued the statement Friday, a day after US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Tokyo, saying the disputed Diaoyu Islands between Japan and China fall under the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

The US and Japan "share strong concern over" China's recent actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, including the declaration of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, it added.