Japan's foreign minister calls for early release of detained national during talks in China

Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (left) meets Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China. - Reuters

TOKYO/BEIJING, April 2 (Reuters): Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he called on Beijing for the early release of a detained Japanese national during a meeting with Chinese diplomat Qin Gang held on Sunday.

Hayashi is visiting China and met with his counterpart Qin, marking the first visit to Beijing for a Japanese government foreign minister in over three years, as the two countries seek common ground amid rising regional tension.