DHAKA: Japan and China held security talks Thursday after a four-year hiatus because of simmering territorial tensions, in a meeting expected to touch on the flashpoint issue of maritime crisis management.

Officials and reports said, according to The Straits Times.

The first such dialogue between the two Asian rivals since January 2011 was held at Japan’s foreign ministry in Tokyo, a government official said, in the latest sign of a hastening thaw in once-frozen relations.

The talks involved top officials from each country’s foreign and defense ministries, including Japan’s deputy foreign minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and Liu Jianchao, China’s assistant foreign minister.

‘Our country sees (the dialogue) as important as it is expected to improve mutual trust between Japan and China in the field of security,’ Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

‘Through this dialogue, we want to foster a sense of trust between the two countries by exchanging views frankly and honestly on security policies, defense policies and the regional situation.’

BDST: 1420 HRS, MAR 19, 2015