State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan Wednesday urged to push forward China-Japan relations back to normal while criticizing Japanese leader for repeating pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine issue.

In his meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Ichiro Aisawa, former vice foreign minister of Japan, Tang said China-Japan friendly relations, based on the two peoples' long-term interests, should be cherished and both sides should make joint efforts for the normal development of China-Japan ties in the spirit of taking history as a mirror to look towards the future.

"The China-Japan relations face ever-tough difficulties at current stage," Tang said. "The shrine visits aggravated China-Japan relations and demolished the political foundation of bilateral ties."

It is believed that Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro's repeated pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including a dozen major World War II criminals, is the main reason for the deterioration of China-Japan ties.

Tang said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the relationship with Japan and has resolutely pursued the basic principle of China-Japan friendship.

"We hope to make joint effort with Japan to get the bilateral ties back to the healthy development track," Tang said. "This goes with our common interests and contributes to regional peace and prosperity."

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2005)