China hopes the Democratic Party of Japan would make positive contributions to promoting Sino-Japanese relations, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said on Sunday.

At a meeting here with a Japanese delegation headed by Seiji Maehara, leader of the Democratic Party, Japan's largest opposition party, Tang spoke highly of the party's correct understanding of history and its efforts to develop cooperation between China and Japan.

Tang also described China's opinions on current Sino-Japanese ties. He said the development of Sino-Japanese relations concerns the "fundamental interests" of both countries and peoples, and also has an impact on peace, stability, development and cooperation of the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

Facing the current difficulties in bilateral relations, Tang said, political parties and statesmen of the two countries should make positive efforts to maintain the overall situation of friendly cooperation between China and Japan in line with the spirit of being "highly responsible" for history, the future and the people.

Maehara, the 43-year-old newly elected party leader, said his party sticks to the policy for Japan-China friendship and supports China's peaceful development.

He has urged Japanese leaders to stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors, among others, convicted class-A World War II criminals.

Maehara also voiced his hope that the Japanese leaders would abide by relevant understandings reached by the two governments and adhere to the spirit of "Murayama Statement," which was made by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on Aug. 15, 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the World War II.

In that statement, Murayama made a clear apology for Japanese crimes before and during the war and expressed deep remorse over the tremendous damage and suffering his country brought to the people of many countries, particularly to the Asian nations.

"To overcome the difficulties of the current Japan-China ties, the Democratic Party of Japan is ready to conduct dialogue with the Chinese, continue to increase mutual understanding and promote the healthy development of bilateral ties," Maehara said.

The Japanese delegation is visiting China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2005)