For the first time in over a year, China's President Xi Jinping and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sat down to discuss the way forward for the two countries at the G20 Summit in China.

China's President Xi called on officials in Tokyo and Beijing to work on making sure that their relationship between both nations is put back on track.

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He added that China and Japan need to "put aside disruptions" that hinder their bilateral ties.

Japan's Prime Minister Abe spoke of Tokyo "managing difficult issues" while promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, according to Kyodo news agency.

The relationship between the two Asian economic superpowers has overtime turned sour due to their dispute over territories in the East Asia Sea, and unresolved matters from World War II.

Previous meetings between Xi and Abe have not been formal; both leaders have often met on the sidelines of other events. The last time the two met was in April at the Asia-Africa Summit.

Durig the meeting, experts say both leaders were likely to discuss the territorial disputes in the East and South China Sea. North Korea's recent missile launch is another issue that was likely to be discussed.

Experts have noted that the meeting wouls aid in relieving the growing tension while increasing exchanges between both nations.

Former diplomat to Japan now researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, Jiang Yuechun, said he believes that the meting between Xi and Abe would create a better room of understanding.

"The competition and differences between the two cannot be solved by one short meeting, but through the face to face talk, Abe may get a better idea how firmly China stands on the core interests and accordingly adjust their policies," said Jiang.

Tagschina, Japan, President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, G20 summit