China urges Japan's leaders to heed domestic calls for better ties

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday that Japan's leaders should heed voices within their own country calling for improved relations with China and correct their approach on issues concerning China's Taiwan region, history and the perception of China.

Mao made the remarks after Takeshi Iwaya, a former Japanese foreign minister and president of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade, reportedly said following a visit to China that Japan was responsible for the deterioration in bilateral ties and should seek to improve them.

Mao welcomed such remarks, saying they reflected the reasoning and conscience of visionary people in Japan.

The root of the problem lies in serious distortions and flaws in Japanese leaders' views of history and China, which have severely undermined the political foundation of bilateral relations, she said.

The current situation serves neither side's interests, and the responsibility rests entirely with Japan, Mao added.

She urged Japan's leaders to listen to and take seriously these domestic voices, address the root causes of the problem, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan, and reflect on and correct their mistakes concerning Taiwan region, history and their perception of China.