Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is set to meet his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on Sunday to discuss unresolved issues between two nations.

Hayashi arrived in Beijing on Saturday evening as the first Japanese foreign minister to visit China in more than three years.

In his first meeting with Qin on Sunday, Hayashi is expected to express his grave concern over the situation in the East China Sea. The two neighbors have been at odds over a group of islands.

Japan controls the Senkaku Islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Chinese government ships have repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters around the islands.

Arrangements are also being made for meetings between Hayashi and top officials of the Chinese Communist Party.

Hayashi is expected to express his concerns about Beijing cooperating with Moscow to increase military activity around Japan.

He will also push for the release of five Japanese nationals being held in China. They include an employee of a major Japanese pharmaceutical firm who was detained last month.

Taiwan's situation will be raised in the talks. Hayashi is expected to stress the importance of peace and stability in the region.
At the same time, the minister will seek reaffirmation that both Japan and China will continue dialogue to build constructive and stable relations for the responsible development of the East Asia and the world.