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Consultations regarding the Diaoyu Islands were held by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai in Beijing on Tuesday. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views during the consultations, according to a statement released by China's Foreign Ministry after their meeting.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun (2nd L) holds talks with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai (not pictured) on bilateral relations, especially on the issue concerning the Diaoyu Islands, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2012. [Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]

Zhang Zhijun pointed out that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have been China's sacred territory since ancient times, as historical and legal evidences have shown, said the statement.

The Japanese side, however, has disregarded the repeated and stern representations made by the Chinese side, denied the important understanding and consensus reached between the older generation of leaders of the two countries, and openly took the illegal actions of "nationalizing" Diaoyu Dao in defiance of historical and legal evidences, Zhang was quoted as saying by the statement.

"These acts constitute a gross violation of China' s territory. They are highly offensive to the 1.3 billion Chinese people, and gravely trample on historical facts and international law. It is an outright denial of the outcomes of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and poses a grave challenge to the post-war international order. Historical verdict can never be overturned; consensus must not be rejected; and flouting people's aspiration will not be tolerated," Zhang said.

The Chinese side will absolutely not tolerate any unilateral action taken by the Japanese side that infringes on China's territorial sovereignty. The Japanese side must abandon any illusion, face up to its erroneous actions and correct them with credible steps. It should recommit itself to the consensus and understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries and meet China half way so as to bring China-Japan relations back onto the right track of sound and stable growth at an early date, Zhang said.

The statement said the two sides agreed to maintain consultations on the issue of Diaoyu Dao Islands.

The ties between China and Japan has been strained since the Japanese government announced its decision to "purchase" Diaoyu Island and its affiliated Nanxiao Island and Beixiao Island under what Tokyo called "nationalization" on September 10, 2012.

This move taken by the Japanese government constitutes a serious violation of Chinese territorial sovereignty. The Chinese government and people firmly oppose it and have strongly protested against the move.

China Sunday postponed events, scheduled for Thursday, marking the 40th anniversary of Sino-Japanese relations.

"Considering the current situation", events to commemorate the normalization of relations between the two nations will be "adjusted to an appropriate time", said a statement by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Japan Friendship Association.

"The atmosphere has been ruined" due to Japan's "buying" of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea earlier this month, the statement continued.

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