Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Friday amicable ties between Japan and China were vital not only for the two nations but also for the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kan made the remarks at a policy speech at the opening of an extraordinary Diet session on Friday.

He said he looked forward to deepening ties with China.

"Even if a variety of problems occur between Japan and China, I believe it would be important to address them calmly as neighbors, " Kan was quoted by the Kyodo News as saying.

The Japanese Prime Minister also vowed to improve Japan's diplomatic skills in the rapidly changing global environment.

Kan said Japan should engage in proactive diplomacy in an international community which was experiencing a watershed because the security and economic situation had changed drastically as a result of the rise of emerging countries.