Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa has met with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing to discuss issues between the two nations.

Hayashi arrived in the Chinese capital on Saturday as the first Japanese foreign minister to visit the country in more than three years.

In his first in-person meeting with Qin on Sunday, Hayashi is believed to have expressed 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.

Hayashi is likely to have expressed concerns about Beijing cooperating with Moscow to increase military activity around Japan.

He is also likely to have pushed for the release of some Japanese nationals being held in China. They include an employee of a major Japanese pharmaceutical firm who was detained last month.

At the same time, the ministers are likely seeking 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.

Hayashi is expected to meet later with new Premier Li Qiang and top diplomat Wang Yi.