BEIJING - A Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday urged Japan to return to negotiating with China, as a recent report indicated that Japan is looking at improving bilateral ties that have been soured by a territorial dispute.

"Japan should face reality, acknowledge the dispute, correct its mistakes and come back to a solution to the issue through negotiation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing.

Kyoto News recently reported that Japan is considering plans to calm tensions by acknowledging Chinese claims to the Diaoyu Islands while maintaining its position that no official territorial dispute exists over the islands.

Hong stressed that China's stance on the Diaoyu Islands has been consistent and clear.