BEIJING - A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Japan to make concrete efforts and take effective measures to resolve tensions over the Diaoyu Islands and improve bilateral relations.

Hong Lei made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked about media reports of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's opinion on the two countries' relations.

Hong reiterated that it is with historical evidence and legal basis that China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets.

China urges the Japanese government to recognize historical facts and the current situation and resolve issues through dialogue and discussion, he said.

China attaches great importance to developing relations with Japan and hopes the Japanese side will continue to promote the two countries'  mutually strategic relations under the principles of the four political documents between the two sides, he added.

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