Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed Friday to continue working together closely on issues related to China, including Taiwan, as Japan¡¯s top diplomat visited Washington for meetings with senior American officials.

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the pair ¡°stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and urged a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.¡±

The visit came just hours before voters in Taiwan headed to the polls in a highly anticipated election that will see the democratic island pick a new president and legislators. The poll is widely expected to be condemned by China ¡ª especially if Democratic People¡¯s Party candidate and current Vice President Lai Ching-te is elected president.