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The leaders of China and Japan have met for formal talks after more than two years of
severe tension over a territorial dispute.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met on the sidelines of the AsiaPacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Beijing.
Their first meeting included a public handshake with little sign of warmth.
In a speech to Apec, President Obama has meanwhile announced big changes to visa
arrangements with China.
Multiple entry short-term visas for businessmen and tourists will be extended to 10 years - up
from one year.
Those for students rise from one year to five.
Mr Obama also stressed the importance of ties between China and the US, saying "the US
welcomes the rise of a prosperous, peaceful and stable China."
His comments come amid underlying tension between the US and China over Beijing's growing
regional influence.
During the handshake he did not smile or respond to Mr Abe's attempt at conversation.
For all the fireworks and group photographs, this summit brings together neighbours with
different worldviews at a difficult moment in history.
How uninhabited islands soured China-Japan ties
Awkward
Relations between China and Japan have long been soured by a row over islands in the East
China Sea.
The uninhabited but strategically important islands, known as Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by
Japan, are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.
Tokyo's decision to purchase three of them from their private Japanese owner in September
2012 led to an escalation in a dispute that has rumbled quietly for years.
Trade is at the heart of the two-day summit
The Chinese and Japanese leaders interacted awkwardly as they posed for an unsmiling photo
after their talks.
Mr Abe said the meeting - which came three days after the two sides agreed to work to prevent
the territorial dispute from escalating - was "the first step for improving ties by returning to
mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests".
He also said they had agreed to start preparations to establish a maritime crisis mechanism.
There have been fears that a clash - accidental or otherwise - between Chinese and Japanese
paramilitary vessels patrolling waters around the disputed islands could trigger a conflict.
Mr Xi told Mr Abe that China hoped Japan would follow a path of peaceful development and
adopt prudent military and security policies.
Relations have also been hampered by what China sees as Japan's failure to adequately
acknowledge its war-time conduct.
Leaders from the 21 Apec member-nations are in Beijing for two days of talks.
Apec, which includes 21 Pacific Rim nations, includes 40% of the world's population, with
member countries accounting for about 44% of global trade and more than half of global
economic output.
The summit takes place as China looks to underline its growing status as regional leader and
economic giant.
It is the biggest event hosted so far by Mr Xi, who took over the Chinese presidency in March
2013, and trade is one of the top priorities.
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China and South Korea have agreed to sign a bilateral free-trade deal which will
remove or reduce most barriers to trade and investment between the two countries
Ahead of the summit Russia and China signed a major gas deal, pledging
greater "mutually fruitful co-operation"
Beijing has also pledged $40bn (25.2bn) to help Asian nations improve trade
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President Vladimir Putin over the Malaysia Airlines plane brought down over Ukraine.