BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Monday urged Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take action in order to improve Sino-Japanese ties.

"The current tensions between China and Japan were caused by the Japanese side, which has repeatedly taken provocative action regarding the Diaoyu Islands," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

Abe told reporters on Sunday that he wishes to meet with China's leaders.

"If there are issues to be solved, then it is the right diplomacy that we should meet and hold talks," Abe said, adding "We should not set any conditions for such meetings."

Hua urged the Japanese side to rectify its wrongdoings and refrain from taking any action that undermines China's territorial sovereignty.

"It is better for the doer to undo what he has done," she said.

Relations between China and Japan soured after the Japanese government "purchased" part of the Diaoyu Islands last September.

China has always been committed to appropriately managing and resolving the Diaoyu Islands dispute through dialogue and consultations, Hua said.

"The Japanese side should face history and reality, show sincerity, take concrete action and make joint efforts with China to meet each other halfway," she said.