Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan at the State Guest House in Tokyo’s Moto-Akasaka district on Oct. 23 (Reina Kitamura)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Hong Kong during a meeting on Oct. 23 with Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan in Tokyo.

The meeting was held to affirm cooperation between the two countries toward realizing a planned visit in the spring by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a state guest, in the hope of tightening relations.

Abe also expressed concern over the detention of Japanese nationals by Chinese authorities, including a college professor, revealed by sources last week.

Wang was visiting Japan to attend Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony on Oct. 22 in the capital.

Abe and Wang noted during the talks that visits by their countries' respective leaders, including Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s trip to Japan and Abe’s trip to China, both last year, have contributed to strengthening relations.

They agreed that the visit by Xi, who is expected to have an audience with Naruhito, should mark a meaningful milestone in that direction.

Abe also expressed his "deep concerns" about the volatile situation in Hong Kong, where huge rallies have been staged for extended periods to protest a contentious bill, now withdrawn, that would have allowed authorities to extradite crime suspects to mainland China for prosecution.

He underscored the importance of resolving the crisis through dialogue and of allowing Hong Kong to move forward under the longstanding "one country, two systems."

Abe also strongly urged Wang to take action on a series of cases in which Japanese nationals have been detained by Chinese authorities, including a Hokkaido University professor who visited Beijing last month.

The specialist in China in his 40s is the first national university faculty member to be detained in the country.

In recent years, China has stepped up security against information-gathering activities by foreigners.

Also during the meeting, Abe and Wang reaffirmed that Tokyo and Beijing would collaborate on economic and other fronts.

However, Abe reiterated that Japan's economic cooperation would be conditional and not extend beyond the boundaries of the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, which calls for achieving financial health.

The remark referred to China's push for the One Belt, One Road vision of forming a broad economic zone connecting Asia and Europe, which China has called on Japan to support.

Abe reportedly also related to Wang the significance of resolving the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s and supporting Japan's efforts in that regard.

Beijing is Pyongyang’s main ally.

During his visit, Wang is also expected to meet with Taro Aso, deputy prime minister and finance minister, and other top officials, including Toshihiro Nikai, the secretary-general of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party.

Wang is also scheduled to travel to Hokkaido to inspect farms.

(This article was written by Narumi Ota and Takashi Funakoshi.)