A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday expressed China's support for people-to-people and local government level exchanges with Japan, in light of Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe's China visit.

"China hopes people with vision in Japan can make efforts to improve bilateral ties," said Qin Gang.

Qin added that Japanese leaders should earnestly listen to Japanese people's voices advocating bilateral friendship and create conditions to mend the currently strained ties with China by taking concrete steps to correct mistakes.

Masuzoe visits Beijing from Thursday at the invitation of Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun.

Masuzoe will reportedly meet with Wang, sharing views on topics such as fighting against air pollution, according to previous reports. He also planned to learn Beijing's experience of hosting the 2008  Olympic Games as Tokyo is going to hold the Games in 2020.

Masuzoe said on Thursday there was "great significance" in his visit to Beijing and the trip could be a step toward repairing strained bilateral ties.

"Country-to-country relations between Japan and China are tense, and there's great significance in the people of Beijing asking me to come here," Masuzoe said after arriving in Beijing for a three-day visit.