Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said Tuesday that he will try hard to rebuild a "strategic, mutually beneficial relationship" with China.

During a luncheon meeting at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, Maehara said he will strive to mend ties with China as foreign minister.

He also welcomed the agreement between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Belgium Monday to resume talks between high-level officials of the two countries.

Earlier in the day Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku expressed his hope for the improvement of Japan's relations with China.

"Promoting a strategic, mutually beneficial relationship and improving ties between Japan and China will be positive not only for the two countries but also for other Asian countries or countries around the world, especially for their economies," said Sengoku at a regular press conference in Tokyo.

China-Japan relations have been soured recently after the Japanese Coast Guard illegally seized a Chinese fishing boat and detained the crew on Sept. 8 in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Japanese authorities insisted on performing a so-called domestic judicial procedure against the crew despite strong protests from the Chinese government and public. The crew and the boat were released later.