Vice-President Li Yuanchao called for Tokyo to offer "sincerity and action" to improve relations with Beijing, while emphasizing China's commitment to improving Sino-Japanese relations.

Li made the remarks in Beijing on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of visiting Japanese governors.

Prominent figures from Japan have visited China recently in a bid to thaw the chill in relations, as the two neighbors have seen their ties sink to a new low in the past two years over territorial and historical issues.