China has expressed its indignation at a remark made by a Japanese cabinet member about "comfort women", Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

The remark objected to was made by Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister, Nariaki Nakayama.

In a recent public address in Japan, Nakayama made reference to an e-mail message from a female Japanese student in Canada. It read: "The victimized women in Asia should be proud of being comfort women." He said the message was unusual yet "encouraging".

Liu said such comments hurt the feelings of people who were victims of Japan's war of aggression.

Liu added that Nakayama has repeatedly made "wrongful" comments about "comfort women". In June, Nakayama reportedly said that the words "comfort women" did not exist, which is why the "incorrect" description was removed from Japanese school textbooks.

In November 2004, Nakayama reportedly said that he was pleased to see the self-abusing description of "comfort women" disappear from history textbooks in Japan.

The term "comfort women" describes women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II.

On the fishery disputes with Japan, China attaches great importance to safeguarding the legitimate rights of Chinese fishermen, and urged Japan to handle fishing disputes properly in accordance with the various agreements reached between the two sides, Liu said.

Taiwan fishermen allege that they have been repeatedly driven away from the Diaoyu Islands by Japanese patrol boats, their traditional fishing ground.

"We have voiced strong concern about this issue to Japan," Liu added.

Liu said that the fishing agreements entered into by China and Japan include Taiwan.

"China strongly opposes any of Japan's moves that will violate the one-China policy on the pretext of resolving dispute with Taiwan on fishing affairs," Liu said.

Commenting on six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Liu said a date for the new round of talks has not been decided.

Liu announced that Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, as a special representative of Chinese President Hu Jintao, left Beijing on Tuesday morning on an official goodwill visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Liu said that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is very complex but "we are confident that dialogue and diplomacy can solve the problems."

The DPRK announced on Saturday that it had agreed with the United States to hold the fourth round of the six-party talks in the week beginning July 25 after a secret meeting between diplomats in Beijing.

The first round of talks was launched on August 27, 2003 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in downtown Beijing.

But after the third round of the talks, the DPRK decided to suspend its participation citing the US policy of hostility. 

In other matters, Liu said China congratulates Sudan on taking a major step towards a period of peace and development.

The transition constitution took effect in Sudan on July 9, and new leaders were sworn in. The new leaders of Sudan include President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir, First Vice-President John Garang and Second Vice-President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha.

On state visits, Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong will pay a state visit to China from July 18 to 22 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Liu announced.

The countries have made headway in two-way trade cooperation. Trade volume last year was worth US$6.74 billion, an all-time high. "That makes China Vietnam's biggest trading partner," Liu said.
 
Bilateral trade volume in the first four months of the year was worth US$25 billion, up 32 percent year-on-year.

The two sides are also looking to resolve issues concerning demarcation and fishery cooperation, Liu added.

"Now the two countries are discussing the pattern and terrain of joint exploitation inthe South China Sea," Liu said.

Liu also announced that Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, will pay a working visit to China from July 20 to 27 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

China and Guyana established diplomatic relations in 1972.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily July 13, 2005)