BEIJING (Sputnik) — China welcomes the news of stronger relations between Russia and Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Monday.
He commented on last Friday's rare talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Sochi, where they discussed a wide range of political, economic and international issues.
"We are glad to note a steady increase in [Russian-Japanese] bilateral contacts," the spokesman told reporters in a comment on the meeting between Putin and Abe.
The spokesman stressed that Beijing regarded Russia and Japan as important neighbors as well as major powers in the Asia-Pacific region.