Shinzo Abe calls for talks with Xi Jinping at Beijing Apec summit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called for talks with President Xi Jinping during a regional meeting in Beijing in November, the latest call from Tokyo for a face-to-face meeting amid testy diplomatic relations.

Abe pointed to the neighbours’ huge trading and business ties, saying they were “inextricably” linked, despite a row over islands in the East China Sea and historical grievances largely tied to Tokyo’s militarism in the first half of the 20th century.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum later this year would be a possible venue, Abe added.

“I want to hold summit talks [with Xi] during the Apec meeting in Beijing,” he told parliament, responding to questions about relations with China.

“My door is always open for dialogue and I hope the Chinese side adopts the same stance,” Abe added.

Abe and Xi, both strong nationalists, have not held a bilateral summit meeting since they both came to power more than 18 months ago.