BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China expects Japan to make joint efforts so as to maintain and advance the two nations' ties, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu on Saturday.

Ma made these remarks when asked to comment on a statement made by Japan's Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara who reportedly said on Friday that as the world's second and third largest economies, Japan and China should work together to continue pushing forward the two countries' strategic links.

"We have taken note of the statement. We expect Japan to work with us in joint efforts to maintain and advance the strategic bilateral relationship of mutual benefit," Ma said.

Maehara said on Monday China's countermeasures in September following Japan's detention of a Chinese trawler captain near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea were "hysterical."

Ma responded on Tuesday that China was shocked by the comments and urged Japan to take concrete actions to repair ties.