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China and Japan leaders hold ice-breaker talks at Apec summit China and Japan leaders hold ice-breaker talks at Apec summit
(35 minutes later)
The leaders of China and Japan have met for formal talks after more than two years of severe tension over a territorial dispute.The leaders of China and Japan have met for formal talks after more than two years of severe tension over a territorial dispute.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Beijing.Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Beijing.
The talks are the first between the two leaders. Mr Abe said it was the first step to "improving ties". The talks are the first between the two leaders and Mr Abe said they were the first step to improving ties.
Relations have been soured by the row over islands in the East China Sea. Relations have been soured by a row over islands in the East China Sea.
The strategically important islands, known as Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan, are controlled by Japan. The uninhabited but strategically important islands, known as Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan, are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.
Tokyo's decision to purchase three of them from their private Japanese owner in September 2012 led to an escalation in a dispute that has rumbled quietly for years.Tokyo's decision to purchase three of them from their private Japanese owner in September 2012 led to an escalation in a dispute that has rumbled quietly for years.
The disputed islands China has also complained about what it sees as Japan's failure to adequately acknowledge its war-time actions and has been angered by visits by Japanese lawmakers - including Mr Abe - to the Yasukuni shrine that commemorates Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals.
How uninhabited islands soured China-Japan ties The member countries of Apec account for more than 50% of global economic output.
Analysis: Carrie Gracie, BBC China editorAnalysis: Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor
After two years of Chinese animosity towards Japan's new prime minister, President Xi has finally relented.After two years of Chinese animosity towards Japan's new prime minister, President Xi has finally relented.
Today's face-to-face meeting with Shinzo Abe is important progress in relations between the world's second and third largest economies.Today's face-to-face meeting with Shinzo Abe is important progress in relations between the world's second and third largest economies.
But the underlying disagreements over territory and history remain as bitter as ever. And even Mr Xi's body language at today's meeting was calculatedly icy.But the underlying disagreements over territory and history remain as bitter as ever. And even Mr Xi's body language at today's meeting was calculatedly icy.
During the handshake he did not smile or respond to Mr Abe's attempt at conversation.During the handshake he did not smile or respond to Mr Abe's attempt at conversation.
For all the fireworks and group photographs, this summit brings together neighbours with different worldviews at a difficult moment in history.For all the fireworks and group photographs, this summit brings together neighbours with different worldviews at a difficult moment in history.
'First steps' How uninhabited islands soured China-Japan ties
China has also complained about what it sees as Japan's failure to adequately acknowledge its war-time actions and has been angered by visits by Japanese lawmakers - including Mr Abe - to the Yasukuni shrine that commemorates Japan's war dead, including convicted war criminals.
The two national leaders interacted awkwardly as they posed for an unsmiling photo after the talks.The two national leaders interacted awkwardly as they posed for an unsmiling photo after the talks.
Mr Abe said the meeting - which came three days after the two sides agreed to work to prevent the territorial dispute from escalating - was "the first step for improving ties by returning to mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests", Mr Abe said the meeting - which came three days after the two sides agreed to work to prevent the territorial dispute from escalating - was "the first step for improving ties by returning to mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests".
He also said the two countries had agreed to start preparations to establish a maritime crisis mechanism. He also said they had agreed to start preparations to establish a maritime crisis mechanism.
There have been fears that a clash - accidental or otherwise - between Chinese and Japanese paramilitary vessels patrolling waters around the disputed islands could trigger a conflict.There have been fears that a clash - accidental or otherwise - between Chinese and Japanese paramilitary vessels patrolling waters around the disputed islands could trigger a conflict.
Mr Xi told Mr Abe that "historical issues concern the feelings of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people" and that China hoped Japan would follow a path of peaceful development and adopt prudent military and security policies.Mr Xi told Mr Abe that "historical issues concern the feelings of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people" and that China hoped Japan would follow a path of peaceful development and adopt prudent military and security policies.
Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunubo Kato said there was no direct mention of the Yasukuni shrine or of the disputes islands during the half-hour talks. But Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunubo Kato said there was no direct mention of the Yasukuni shrine nor of the disputed islands during the half-hour talks.
Trade agendaTrade agenda
The meeting came with leaders from the 21 Apec member-nations in the Chinese capital for two days of talks. Leaders from the 21 Apec member-nations are in Beijing for two days of talks.
What is Apec?
Bilateral meetings between top leaders are taking place on Monday, followed by a formal leaders' summit on Tuesday.Bilateral meetings between top leaders are taking place on Monday, followed by a formal leaders' summit on Tuesday.
The summit takes place as China looks to underline its growing status as regional leader and economic giant.The summit takes place as China looks to underline its growing status as regional leader and economic giant.
It is the biggest event hosted so far by Mr Xi, who took over the Chinese presidency in March 2013, and trade is one of the top priorities.It is the biggest event hosted so far by Mr Xi, who took over the Chinese presidency in March 2013, and trade is one of the top priorities.
The US will be pushing its Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation economic framework along the Pacific Rim which currently excludes China.The US will be pushing its Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-nation economic framework along the Pacific Rim which currently excludes China.
It is the economic aspect of America's "Asia rebalance", which some experts say is aimed at countering China's growing influence in the region.It is the economic aspect of America's "Asia rebalance", which some experts say is aimed at countering China's growing influence in the region.
China, however, will be trying to shore up support for its own separate free-trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.China, however, will be trying to shore up support for its own separate free-trade agreement, the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
Both US President Barack Obama and Russia leader Vladimir Putin are attending the summit. Both US President Barack Obama and Russia leader Vladimir Putin are attending, but the two men are not expected to hold talks, amid frosty ties over Russia's support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.
But the two men are not expected to hold talks, amid frosty ties over Russia's support for separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Australian leader Tony Abbott, however, says he is seeking a "robust conversation" with Mr Putin over MH17, the Malaysia Airlines plane brought down by a missile over Ukraine.Australian leader Tony Abbott, however, says he is seeking a "robust conversation" with Mr Putin over MH17, the Malaysia Airlines plane brought down by a missile over Ukraine.
Talks would focus on "our absolute expectation that Russia will be as good as its word, that it will fully co-operate with the investigations that are underway and that it will do what it can to ensure that justice is done", Mr Abbott said.Talks would focus on "our absolute expectation that Russia will be as good as its word, that it will fully co-operate with the investigations that are underway and that it will do what it can to ensure that justice is done", Mr Abbott said.
The plane is believed to have been hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Russian officials have denied the allegations.The plane is believed to have been hit by a surface-to-air missile fired from an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Russian officials have denied the allegations.
In other early summit developments:In other early summit developments: