The Foreign Ministry issued a statement today strongly protesting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to?the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors WWII war criminals.

In total disregard for the concern and opposition from the international community, neighboring Asian countries and the Japanese people, the statement said, Koizumi insisted on visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, in a move that "challenges the international justice and tramples the conscience of mankind."

Koizumi repeatedly offended the Chinese people and his acts have made him lose credit with the international community and the Japanese people, and undermined Japan's state image and interests as well, it said.

The Chinese government expressed "strong protests" against the visit that severely harmed the feelings of those victimized by the Japanese militarists' aggression and damaged the political basis of Sino-Japanese relations, the statement continued.

The maintenance of sound growth in Sino-Japanese relations is in the fundamental interests of Chinese and Japanese people and conducive to the peace and stability in Asia and the world at large, it said.

With joint efforts from Japanese statesmen and people who cherish and engage in the Sino-Japanese friendship, the Chinese government and people will be unremittingly committed to peaceful coexistence, friendship for generations to come, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development between the two countries, it added.

"We believe that people of insight from all walks of life in Japan will follow the historical tide and make efforts to wipe out political barriers so as to push Sino-Japanese ties back to the normal track at an early date," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2006)