China and Japan agreed Wednesday to set up talks on often contentious security issues as they seek to improve a relationship riven in recent years by a range of issues, from territorial disputes to the discharge of water from Japan's tsunami-wrecked nuclear power plant.

China and Japan agreed that Beijing’s top diplomat should visit in 2025, adding to the signs the two nations are repairing ties that have been strained in recent years.

BEIJING -- Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya has been invited to visit China on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Tuesday. "China attaches importance to Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya's visit," Mao said, adding that Chinese leaders will meet with him.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has met with top Chinese leaders during his visit to Beijing, the first since the heads of the two countries met at a summit in Peru last month

Takeshi Iwaya made his first trip to Beijing since becoming Japan's foreign minister in October. Chinese officials said often difficult bilateral ties were "at a critical period of improvement and development.