China Wednesday ruled out a meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi this month because of frosty ties between the two countries.

The two leaders are scheduled to attend the ninth summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK); and the first East Asia Summit in Malaysia in mid-December.

"Sino-Japanese relations are facing difficulties, and it is impossible to expect bilateral ties to develop as usual," said Cui Tiankai, director of the Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry.

He was asked during a news briefing whether the Chinese and Japanese leaders would meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN-plus-three summit as they did in the past.

"It is self-deceiving for the Japanese side to wish everything proceeds normally as if nothing has happened," he said.

He was apparently referring to Koizumi's latest visit to the Yasukuni Shrine that honours convicted Class-A World War II criminals.

Koizumi paid an annual pilgrimage to the symbol of Japanese militarism in October, the fifth time since he took office in April 2001.

The shrine visit "has severely hurt the feelings of the Chinese and other Asian peoples," Cui said.

"The Japanese side should accept full responsibility for the difficulties China and Japan are facing in their relations," he added.

While angering China and the ROK, Koizumi's shrine visit has also stood in the way of top-level exchanges between Japan and its two neighbours.

Earlier this month, China turned down Japan's request for a meeting between President Hu Jintao and Koizumi at an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in Busan, the ROK.

Meanwhile, ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon confirmed Wednesdaythat his country has no plan for a meeting between President Roh Moo-hyun and Koizumi in Malaysia.

As for the trilateral summit meeting of China, Japan and the ROK that has been held annually for the past six years at the ASEAN-plus-three summit, Cui said it has yet to be decided through consultation.

The official warned that regional co-operation in Asia will be affected if relations between China and Japan two of Asia's largest economies continue to sour.

Unhealthy Sino-Japanese ties have triggered worries among their neighbours about the push for co-operation in the region, Cui said.

The ASEAN-plus-three summit will be followed by the inaugural East Asia Summit, which also includes India, Australia and New Zealand.

Prior to the trip to Malaysia, Premier Wen is scheduled to visit France, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Portugal between December 4 and 10. Zhao Jun, director of the European Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry, said that the Sino-Portuguese relationship will be elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Wen's visit.

Source: China Daily