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China's top political adviser stressed the role of public diplomacy, rather than relying solely on official channels, during a meeting on Thursday with leaders of Japanese groups committed to developing China-Japan ties.

Jia Qinglin (right), chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, meets Yohei Kono, Japan's former chief cabinet secretary and current president of the Japanese Association for Promotion of International Trade, at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday in Beijing. [Feng Yongbin/ China Daily]

"I hope Japanese people from all walks of life will take the general situation of bilateral ties into consideration, overcome current difficulties and work with the Chinese side to put the ties back on a track of sound development," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.

Jia made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese people from various circles in Beijing.

The delegates, led by former Japanese Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade Yohei Kono, included Satsuki Eda, a senior lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Japan and former president of the House of Councillors, Koichi Kato, head of the Japan-China Friendship Association, Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and some other Japanese people from the political and cultural circles.

China Sunday delay a long-planned reception scheduled for Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of normalized China-Japan ties. Instead, top political adviser Jia Qinglin met heads of major Japan-China friendship groups and progressive Japanese politicians who contributed to, and want to improve, ties.

This year should have been a great opportunity to deepen ties between these two countries, said Jia. However, Japan's "nationalization" of part of the Diaoyu Islands, regardless of China's repeated representations, have "pushed China-Japan ties to the grim situation", he said.

He noted that Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been China's inherent territory since ancient times. The historical facts and jurisprudential evidence for that are clear.

Japan's erroneous action has seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty, touched on the historical pain endured by the Chinese people and aroused their strong indignation and firm opposition, Jia said.

"Japan should fully recognize the seriousness of the situation, face up to the problems over the islands and correct their errors as soon as possible to avoid causing greater damage to relations," Jia said.

Progress in ties over the past four decades have brought enormous benefits to the two countries and their people, Jia said. "The hard-won situation should be cherished. Only by learning from history can we face the future.''

Jia also praised Japanese group's history of making positive contributions to the improvement and progress of bilateral relations.

The Japanese delegates said bilateral relations with China are important for the two countries, Asia and the world as a whole. They have been concerned with, and endeavored for, the development of the two countries' friendship for a long time, and they find the current situation deplorable.

The delegates also vowed to continue to play an active role in the development of Japan-China relations.

Kyodo News Agency said the meeting was seen as "a positive gesture to improve sharply deteriorating ties".

Feng Zhaokui, a Japanese studies researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that even in this bleak situation, goodwill can make a difference.

"In the face of the damage wrought by radical Japanese right-wing politicians, we can only resort to the power of friendship to eliminate difficulties, and that serves the interests of both countries."

Finding common ground is important, Takeshi Noda, visiting chairman of the Japan-China Society, told Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV in Tokyo before his trip to Beijing.

"It is the hardest time for ties and both countries need to follow the principle of shelving differences and seek common ground."

Japan's government announced on Sept 10 a final decision to "purchase" some of the islands in the East China Sea.

Protests erupted across China and the diplomatic deadlock has overshadowed trade ties between the world's second and third-largest economies.

Xu Dunxin, former vice-foreign minister and Chinese ambassador to Japan, welcomed the gesture by Tokyo of sending senior diplomats to Beijing for talks earlier this week but "if they want to talk, sincerity is expected''.

"They should understand facts and respect history when discussing the islands," Xu told China Central Television.

Meanwhile, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda frequently referred to "the rule of international law" for resolving territorial disputes.

Noda also told reporters at the General Assembly that the islands "are an integral part" of Japan's territory in light of history and international law.

Japanese Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura on Thursday rejected the need to take the islands issue to the international court.

Tokyo will boost its campaign to seek support from the international community, said Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba.

"China is disappointed and sternly opposes the Japanese leader's obstinacy regarding his wrong position on the issue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a written statement following Noda's remarks on Thursday.

Japan stole the islands at the end of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). Key declarations following World War II, including the Cairo Declaration, clearly returned the islands to China. "How can it make sense for a defeated country to illegally occupy the territory of a victorious nation?" Qin said.

Qu Xing, president of the China Institute of International Studies, blasted Noda's remarks as "hypocritical and deceptive" because Japan has violated international law when it used force to occupy China's territory. "And Japan has deliberately tried to hoodwink the international community,'' Qu said.

Yang Bojiang, a professor of Japanese studies at the University of International Relations in Beijing, said Japan is using the global stage to get support.

Meanwhile, Noda was also greeted by around 1,000 Chinese nationals demonstrating in front of UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday local time.