Xi And Ishiba Express Desire For 'Constructive' Relations

Chinese and Japanese leaders met for the first time in Peru

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

China’s president Xi Jinping has told Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba that he hopes Japan will “properly” handle issues such as Taiwan, after Tokyo expressed concerns about Beijing’s “increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres”.

The leaders of the two rival nations met for the first time on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Lima, Peru, on Saturday. Mr Xi said Beijing was ready to work with Tokyo to establish a “constructive and stable” relationship, and that the two Asian countries should be “partners, not threats” to one another.