Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been elected as the top leader of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party.58-year-old Abe beat his rival ex-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a run-off following the initial round in which all five candidates were not able to secure a majority of votes.The presidential election kicked off Wednesday at the party headquarters in Tokyo, with five candidates vying for the leadership of the party.Other three candidates include LDP Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara, ex-Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, and former economic and fiscal policy minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei reiterates China's position on the Diaoyu Islands as Shinzo Abe won the presidential election of Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party.Hong Lei says he has no comment on the election results, as they are part of Japan's internal affairs.However, he urges Japan to take concrete measures to correct its mistakes and return to the track of negotiation so as to create conditions for the improvement of bilateral ties.
