Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi reiterated China's solemn position on the issue of Diaoyu Islands during the talks with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.

The Diaoyu Islands. [File photo]

Yang?pointed out that the Diaoyu Islands have been China's sacred territory since ancient times at the meeting.

Regardless of China's stern representations and strong opposition, he said, the Japanese side insisted on implementing the so-called "nationalization" of China's Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands.

The Japanese move is a gross violation of China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, an outright denial of the outcomes of victory of the world anti-fascist war and a grave challenge to the post-war international order, he said.

Japan's move has aroused strong indignation among the 1.3 billion Chinese people, Yang said. "The Chinese side will by no means tolerate any unilateral actions by the Japanese side on the Diaoyu Islands. China will continue to take firm measures to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty."

Yang emphasized that the current tensions were initiated by the Japanese side and that Tokyo must take full responsibility for what it has done.

The Japanese side must face reality and stop having illusions, and take concrete measures to correct its mistakes and stop all activities that undermine China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Yang said.

Only in this way can China-Japan relations return to the track of sound and steady development, said Yang.

At the meeting, both sides promised they would maintain consultations on the issue of Diaoyu Islands and on bilateral relations.