Japan writes letter to China as calls to ease tensions grow

A senior Tokyo diplomat handed a letter, written by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and intended for President Hu Jintao, to State Councilor Dai Bingguo on Friday.

Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Japan's parliamentary senior deputy minister of foreign affairs, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday as Tokyo's chief messenger to ease bilateral tensions over territorial issues.

At the Friday meeting, both sides gave their views on bilateral ties. Japan's leading media stressed that the letter and Yamaguchi's visit were arranged due to the recent anti-Japan protests in China.