Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi says he will visit Beijing on Wednesday to hold his first face-to-face talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

Iwaya announced the dialogue at a news conference on Tuesday. He will become the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China since April of last year.

He said there is a range of challenges and pending issues between Japan and China. He added that the two countries bear substantial responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community.

Iwaya expressed his hope to have candid and in-depth talks with Wang.

Iwaya will also attend the Japan-China High-Level People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Dialogue, which will take place for the first time in five years. Japan's culture minister Abe Toshiko will also take part.
They plan to discuss with the Chinese side how to promote exchanges between the two countries.

Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also announced at a news conference on Tuesday that Iwaya will visit China on Wednesday and hold talks with Wang.

She said China wants to strengthen dialogue and communication with Japan from the standpoint of common interests. She expressed her country's willingness to deepen practical cooperation, to adequately control the differences and fully promote strategic reciprocal relations through joint efforts.