Japan, China talks on Senkaku Islands

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reiterated  Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea belong to Japan, rejecting China's sovereignty claim over the islands.PM of Japan Noda and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met on Sunday after the tripartite summit of Japan, China and South Korea in Beijing. Two leaders met for the first time since Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara announced a plan to buy the islands.Wen said it's important to respect each other's core interests and matters of great interest.

Noda said the islands are an integral part of Japan from the viewpoint of history and international law.
Noda said he doesn't want the issue to affect overall Japan-China relations.At the same time, he added that China's increased maritime activities near the islands and elsewhere are agitating the Japanese people.

Noda said the Japanese government wants to help China more deeply understand basic and universal values of the international community through bilateral dialogue on human rights.Remark is seen as a reference to China's treatment of the blind activist Chen Guangcheng.Media agencies