Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and his Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, exchanged unpleasant statements during talks in Beijing yesterday that were arranged to calm the anger coming from the protests, which conflagrated nine Chinese cities over the weekend.

Mr. Machimura demanded an apology and compensation for the damage the protests caused for Japanese diplomatic missions.

Mr. Li, in his turn, blamed the Japanese government with inciting the Chinese public’s rage by its treatment of Japanise war-time barbarities and its dealings with Taiwan.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are scheduled to attend a summit of Asian and African nations in Indonesia this week. Yesterday, foreign ministers have discussed the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders which could give some chances to settle the issue.

Mr. Machimura asked China’s Mr. Li to provide appropriate security for Japanese businesses and individuals, saying such measures were necessary "to put relations back on track." Mr. Li defended the Chinese government’s responsibility for adequate security.