Easing tension over islands

Masato Kitera, Japan's new ambassador to China who arrives in Beijing on Tuesday, has a lot of weight on his shoulders.

Kitera, a career diplomat, said he is willing to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Uichiro Niwa, who traveled around China to get to know the country better.

Kitera's primary task is clearing up the mess caused by the Japanese government's "purchase" of China's Diaoyu Islands, which has triggered the worst bilateral tension in decades. Before leaving for Beijing, he did say the two countries could find the "desirable exit" from the strained relations.