China will continue to work with Japan to promote the Sino-Japanese strategic partnership of mutual benefit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Wednesday after Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's resignation.

"During his tenure, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attached importance to Sino-Japanese relations and made important efforts to the sound and steady development of bilateral ties, which we appreciate," Ma said.

"No mater what happens in the Japanese political situation, China will work with Japan to continuously promote the Sino-Japanese strategic partnership of mutual benefit," Ma said.

Yukio Hatoyama announced Wednesday his decision to resign in a general assembly of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers. He became the fourth Japanese prime minister to step down in four years.