On July 4, 2011, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto in Beijing, exchanging views on the development of bilateral ties and other issues. Matsumoto congratulated China on the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

Both sides spoke highly of the positive cooperation between the two governments and peoples in disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction following the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They held that such cooperation played a positive role in improving national feelings between both peoples and pushing forward China-Japan relations. Both sides agreed that continuously pushing forward their bilateral strategic and reciprocal relations conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples, as well as the regional and global peace, stability and development. In the current and following period, China and Japan should work together to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and promote the bilateral ties through commemorating the next year's 40th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties, Yang said.

Yang reiterated to Matsumoto that the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are China's "inherent territory." Yang also called on the two sides to work together to create favorable atmosphere and conditions for implementing the principled consensus on the East China Sea through practical actions. Yang expressed China's concern over the China-related issues being raised by the U.S.-Japan military alliance, and elaborated China's position on the South China Sea.

Both sides also exchanged views on the regional situation and other issues of common concern.