Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to strengthen communication at all levels during their first meeting since the Japanese leader took office in October.

Chinese president Xi Jinping told Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba that he hoped Japan would "properly" handle issues such as history and Taiwan after Tokyo expressed concerns about Beijing's “increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres".

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed "serious concerns" over the situation in the South China Sea to Chinese President Xi Jinping in their first in-person talks, Tokyo's foreign ministry said Saturday.

Japan should translate the important political consensus reached by the two sides into concrete policies and practical actions, properly handle major, fundamental matters such as the history issue and the Taiwan question, constructively manage differences, and safeguard the political foundation of the relations, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that China hoped Japan would "properly handle" major issues of principle such as history and Taiwan, according to Chinese state media on Saturday.

It is hoped Japan will ‘properly handle’ major issues including Taiwan, Xi Jinping tells Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Apec margins.