The seven Chinese citizens detained illegally by Japan have returned safely to Shanghai after the Chinese government's repeated protests.

　　The citizens were detained on Wednesday by the Japanese coastguard after landing on the Diaoyu Islands, which have been China's territory from ancient times, said the sources.

　　They arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport last night.

　　Earlier yesterday, officials from the Chinese Embassy to Japan visited the group in Naha, Okinawa, and made arrangements for their return.

　　The seven, all men, landed on the Diaoyu Islands at 6:26am on Wednesday after they left a port in east China's Zhejiang Province at 1am on Tuesday by boat.

　　China lodged several protests to Japan over the illegal detention of the seven Chinese.

　　China and Japan should work together to properly handle the problems existing between the two countries to push forward healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, said Kong Quan, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry yesterday.

　　Kong said the Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory from ancient times over which China has indisputable sovereignty.

　　It is a fact that China and Japan have disputes over the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, he said, adding that the Chinese government has always advocated resolving the issue through negotiations.

　　(Xinhua)