China, Japan agree to renew ties

China and Japan Friday reached an agreement to improve bilateral ties, resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue while acknowledging different positions on the Diaoyu Islands.

The agreement was reached as State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with visiting National Security Advisor of Japan Shotaro Yachi, Xinhua quoted China's foreign ministry as saying.

The four-point agreement refers to the China-Japan Joint Statement inked in 1972, the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978, the China-Japan Joint Declaration of 1998 and the joint statement on advancing strategic and mutually-beneficial relations in a comprehensive way that was signed in 2008.

The two sides need to uphold the political foundation for China-Japan relations strictly according to the spirit of the four-point agreement, Yang said during the meeting.

"A long-term, healthy and stable growth of China-Japan relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries and their people, and it is China's consistent position to grow China-Japan relations on the basis of the four political documents in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and looking forward to the future," Yang said.

Yachi said during the meeting that Japan attaches great importance to the strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China.

"Japan stands ready to proceed from the overall interests, conduct dialogue and consultation with China to enhance common understanding and mutual trust, and properly handle disagreement and sensitive issues," Yachi was quoted as saying.

The accord came days before the arrival of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Abe is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.