The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called for dialogue between the governments of Japan and China to ease the tensions between the two countries over the islands in the East China Sea. "

Japan and China are very important partners for us, specifically, in economic ties. And we are absolutely not interested in confrontation in the region," the ministry's spokesman Oleg Voloshin said during a press briefing .

Voloshin urged the two neighboring countries not to undertake any provocative actions that will heighten tensions in the region.

Tensions between China and Japan over Diaoyu Islands escalated on Sept. 10, when Tokyo decided to "purchase" the uninhabited islands, infringing on China's territorial integrity.

Japanese government's decision to "buy" Diaoyu Islands, which have been China's territories since ancient times, has triggered strong protests from the Chinese government and the people.