Meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders welcomed by US

Washington, Nov 11: The US has welcomed the

between the Chinese president and the Japanese prime minister in Beijing.

"Dialogue between the two countries and a positive relationship is something that we feel is important for not only relations between the countries, but peace and prosperity for the region and the world," State Department Spokesperson, Jen Psaki, told reporters

"So we certainly welcome the meeting between the Chinese President and the Japanese Prime Minister," Psaki said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met for the first time since the two leaders took office, a diplomatic breakthrough after years of strained relationship over territorial disputes and wartime history. Abe was in Beijing to take part in the two-day Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting beginning yesterday.

The meeting followed a meeting of their foreign ministers few days ago here to reach a four-point agreement to rest their ties without prejudicial to their claims on the islands called Senkakus by Japan and Diaoyus by China. Located in the East China Sea, the uninhabited islands believed to be rich with oil and natural resources were administered by Japan.

The row erupted when Japan bought the islands from a private party which China asserted amounted to its nationalisation.

PTI