Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno speaks at a press conference on Nov. 15, 2021. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The United States and China maintaining stable relations is "extremely important" for the international community as a whole, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday following closely watched talks between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

       "Japan will continue to cooperate with our ally the United States based on our strong relationship of trust, while calling on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference.

       The virtual meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, the first since Biden took office in January, came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida engages in a careful balancing act between its main security partner and largest trade partner.

       Kishida has vowed to realize "constructive and stable relations" with China while saying "what needs to be said" regarding human rights transgressions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

       Meanwhile, Japan has been strengthening ties with fellow "Quad" members the United States, India and Australia to counter China's growing assertiveness in regional waters.

       In a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne agreed to advance Quad cooperation and "shared their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China seas and any economic coercion," according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.

       The two also exchanged views on North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and confirmed they will continue to work together on related issues including Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, the ministry said.

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