A senior Chinese official urged future Japanese leaders to make a "wise decision" and remove all political barriers to pave way for a normal China-Japan relationship.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting president of the Japanese News Agency Jiji Wakabayashi Seizo Friday that if the political barriers are completely removed, China-Japan ties could begin a new chapter and the leaders of the two countries would be able to resume normal contact.

He urged the future Japanese leader to make a "wise decision" to completely remove the political barrier to bilateral relations.

The exchange of visits by leaders of the two countries has been suspended for five years. Political mutual-trust between China and Japan has been severely harmed because Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has persisted in worshipping the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A criminals in World War II are honored.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe last week announced his candidacy to become Japan's next prime minister. The other candidates lagged far behind Abe.

Abe defended Koizumi's pilgrimages to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and refused to say whether or not he would visit the shrine as prime minister.

Abe's "ambiguous strategy" will make Sino-Japanese relations uncertain, said Gao Hong, a scholar with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. She said Japan must ultimately use facts to demonstrate whether it is truly serious about its relations with China.

"China-Japan ties stand at a historical crossroads and whether or not the two countries can travel in the right direction is in the interest of both nations and the peace, stability and development in the region," Tang said.

China has held a consistent, clear and firm stance on the Yasukuni Shrine visits, Tang said.

The state councilor also said China will make joint efforts with Japan to properly handle existing problems and take the China-Japan friendly relationship to new heights.

　　"Bringing Sino-Japanese relations back on track is the common aspiration of both peoples, and the expectation of the international community," Tang noted.

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China to work with Japan for friendly ties

A top Chinese diplomat said Friday that China will make joint efforts with Japan to properly handle existing problems and bring China-Japan friendly relationship to a new height.

State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan told visiting president of the Japanese news agency Jiji Wakabayashi Seizo during a meeting that China always takes a strategic, long-term approach to its relations with Japan, and will stick to its friendly policy towards Japan.