Visiting Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Monday urged his Japanese counterpart to properly handle the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands during a key meeting between Beijing and Tokyo after ties were frayed over the fierce quarrel last month.

China's Defence Minister Liang Guanglie (right) speaks with Japan's Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in Hanoi on Monday. [Xinhua]

Japan has requested a meeting between the two officials on the sidelines of the first session of defense ministers of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members and eight regional powers including China, the United States and Japan. 

But China said Liang's schedule was full as the Japanese foreign ministry sent the application too late - on Oct 8.

Thus the two had an unofficial meeting of 20 minutes as they met in the lobby of their hotel.

Sino-Japanese relations have been strained since a collision between two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships and a Chinese trawler on Sept 7 in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

Beijing then broke off all high-level contacts with Tokyo, after Japan illegally detained the captain.

Liang said China does not wish to see damaged relations over the diplomatic row, and is asking Japan to do more to fully resume normal bilateral ties.