The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has delivered a keynote speech to the 67th session of UN General Assembly in New York. On the third day of the gathering of world leaders, Yang reiterated Japan's "illegal" actions and said Tokyo should "correct its mistake."

Yang said the Japanese Government's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands is "totally illegal and invalid." He said the islands were seized from China in 1895, and that Tokyo should recognize Chinese sovereignty.

"Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been an inherent part of China's territory since ancient times. China has indisputable and legal evidence in this regard. By taking such unilateral action as the so-called purchase of the islands, the Japanese Government has violated China's sovereignty," Yang said.

Yang said Japan's actions on the Diaoyu Islands tramples on the principles of the UN Charter. He said China strongly urges Japan to immediately cease activities that violate China's territorial sovereignty. Japan must also take concrete measures to correct its mistake and return to a path of resolving the dispute through negotiation.

After World War II, China took back territories that were invaded and occupied by Japan. Key declarations, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have made it clear that all these occupied islands should be returned to China.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, has urged Japan to seriously self-reflect to ensure bilateral ties get back on track. He warned that continuous erroneous practices by Japan will see its relationship with China sink "like the Titanic."

Meanwhile, Yang has also met with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the General Assembly session. Yang expressed China's strong opposition to Japan's action on the Diaoyu Islands.

Clinton said the U.S. was willing to implement the consensus reached by the two countries, and strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs. The United States has repeatedly said it takes no position on the sovereignty dispute, but believes it's important for China and Japan to work out their differences peacefully.

(CNTV.cn September 28, 2012)