Abe says Xi's Japan visit important, but differs on sensitive issues

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to Japan as a state guest next spring is "extremely" important, while the two leaders clashed over politically sensitive issues such as the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.On Xi's planned visit to Japan, Abe told the Chinese president at the outset of their meeting in Beijing, "We want to build a relationship that is suitable for a new era for Japan and China." Xi told Abe, "I am willing to maintain close communication" to raise "Sino-Japanese ties to a new level."Abe pledged to make X…READ FULL ARTICLE