Japanese lawmakers visit China with aim to patch up ties

A delegation of Japanese lawmakers left for China on Monday with the aim of patching up ties between the two countries, months after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments about Taiwan angering Beijing.

The delegation comprises a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and two opposition lawmakers, all from a cross-party group that seeks to foster ties with China.

The best known out of trio is Gaku Hashimoto from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

He is the son of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, and it was reported by Kyodo News that he held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying back in June.

Other groups of Japanese politicians and business leaders are known to be organising trips to China later in the year.