( CNN ) -- China 's and Japan 's top leaders met in Belgium , indicating a thaw in relations since a diplomatic battle broke out last month over Japan 's arrest of a Chinese fishing captain off the disputed Diaoyu Islands . Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan met Monday in Brussels , on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting . They met in a corridor outside the conference venue after a working dinner and spoke for about 25 minutes , Kan told reporters , according to Japan 's Kyodo news agency . During the meeting , Wen stressed the mutual benefits of Beijing and Tokyo maintaining good relations , according to China 's state-run media . Kan said likewise , Kyodo said . Wen and Kan `` agreed to step up people-to-people exchange and communication between the governments , and hold China-Japan high-level meeting at an appropriate time , '' according to the Xinhua news agency . Wen also reiterated China 's claims to the Diaoyu Islands , China 's state-run media said . Kan told Wen that the islands are an integral part of Japanese territory , Kyodo said . The Japanese call the islands the Senkaku . The arrest of the fishing captain in early September off the islands touched off a battle that escalated into diplomatic threats by Beijing , the suspension of ministerial-level talks and canceled trips between the nations . Beijing says the islands and most of the South China Sea belong to China , disputing neighboring countries ' claims . The clash over territorial waters and islands -- and the natural resources that go with them -- is a flash point in the Asia-Pacific region . Japan late last month freed the fishing captain , who returned to a hero 's welcome in China . During the dispute , China arrested four Japanese nationals , saying they were being investigated for illegally entering a Chinese military zone . China released three of the four Japanese last week , saying they had made admissions and expressed regret . China continues to hold the remaining Japanese national . Their employer , the Japanese construction company Fujita Corp. , has said that they were sent to China for a Japanese government project to reclaim World War II chemical weapons left by Japan 's Imperial Army .
NEW : Wen and Kan also reiterated their nations ' claims to disputed islands . Wen Jiabao and Naoto Kan met on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting . They spoke for about 25 minutes , Kan says . The leaders agreed on the mutual benefits of China and Japan maintaining good relations .