Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday responded positively to remarks made by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao over improving bilateral relations.

Koizumi said that he thought it was "good to realize visits at a time that is desirable to both sides," the Kyodo News Service reported.

He also said Japan agreed with Wen's view that relations between Japan and China are one of the most important bilateral relationships.

Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi said, "We rate the proposals highly as we also believe Japan and China must develop bilateral ties with the future in mind," Kyodo said.

Wen told a news conference in Beijing on Monday that China and Japan should make joint efforts to create conditions for high-level exchanges of visits in a bid to improve bilateral relations.

He suggested the foreign affairs departments of the two countries should begin strategic study and research on strengthening and improving China-Japan relations. And problems left over from history should be properly handled.

On the means of improving the bilateral relationship, Wen proposed three principles: taking history as a mirror and look forward into the future; that Japan should adhere to the "one China" principle; and that cooperation should be strengthened to pursue common development.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said Japan will "carefully study the contents" of the three principles.