Key party figure friendly to China

A senior Japanese political figure with close ties to China was appointed to a top post in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday, a move that experts said could bring positive effects to China-Japan ties.

Toshihiro Nikai, 77, took over for Sadakazu Tanigaki as secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the party's second-most powerful post following the party's president, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The appointment came amid a reshuffle of the Japanese Cabinet and ruling party's executive lineup on Wednesday.