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Xi Jinping and Shinzo Abe break the ice with a brief meeting in Paris

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No Xi Jinping, left, and Shinzo Abe had a brief but cordial meeting on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit. Graphic: SCMP Picures

President Xi Jinping  has told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that China hoped to see sensitive issues with its Asian neighbour “addressed rightly”, according to a news agency report, amid signs of a thaw in relations between the two nations.

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Xi and Abe talked for four minutes on the sidelines of the international climate change summit in Paris on Monday, Kyodo quoted a senior Japanese official as saying.

Xi noted that he had seen “changing signs” in the two countries’ relations, the official said.

“It’s important for us to continue deepening the favourable atmosphere and, towards that end, I hope to see mutually sensitive issues addressed rightly and the relationship cherished,” the official cited Xi as saying.

READ MORE: Xi-Abe handshake has eased tension but challenges remain, state media warn

Abe told Xi he had a good exchange of views with Premier Li Keqiang  in Seoul at talks last month that included South Korea, according to the report. He also called for more “people-to-people” exchanges between Japan and China.

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The brief meeting marks the two leaders’ first conversation since the Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta in April.

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