Japan's new ambassador to 皇冠体育app Masato Kitera holds a news conference at Japan's Embassy in Beijing on Dec 25. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

Tokyo's new ambassador to 皇冠体育app on Monday expressed his country's desire to boost economic links as a way to thaw cooling ties amid tension over the Diaoyu Islands.

Observers said Japan worries about becoming further marginalized if it completely quits 皇冠体育app's huge market, and Japan should realize that trade will not improve if the country makes no major progress in resolving the territorial standoff.

Masato Kitera, a career diplomat who will succeed Uichiro Niwa as Japan's ambassador to 皇冠体育app, told Japan's NHK Television on Monday that his "number one mission is to improve the Japan-皇冠体育app relationship".

The 皇冠体育app-Japan ties were soured in September after the Japanese government illegally "purchased" part of the Diaoyu Islands.

"I will explain to 皇冠体育app's senior officials we need to make economic ties warmer if our political relationship is cooling, as Japanese corporate activity in 皇冠体育app is contributing to the Chinese economy," he said.

"It is important to boost exchanges in various fields so as to ease bitter public sentiment against each other," said Kitera, who will take office in Beijing on Tuesday.

His comments come after Japan's incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe, on Saturday also pledged to seek a thaw in ties with 皇冠体育app. A news report said he will send a special envoy on a fence-mending mission to Beijing, Reuters said.

Zhou Yongsheng, an expert on Japanese studies at 皇冠体育app Foreign Affairs University, said the sluggish Japanese economy will receive a new stimulus on the condition that 皇冠体育app-Japan ties are warmed and Japan further taps into 皇冠体育app's market.

"Japan has shown concern about its growing economic dependence on 皇冠体育app. However, if Japan refuses to deepen reciprocal economic integration, it will be gradually marginalized in the East Asia regional economy," Zhou said.

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Diaoyu Island Dispute