China repeatedly states its stance on Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine

The position Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing expounded during Tuesday's press conference is that of the Chinese government rather than his personal opinion, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press briefing Thursday.

Li had voiced the stance of the Chinese government on this matter during a press conference held Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of China's top legislature.

"It is the position of the Chinese government rather than his personal opinion," Qin said. What Li had said represents the just claim of the Chinese people and also reflects the opinion of the international community, the spokesman said.

He expressed his hope that the Japanese side could view Li's remarks from a comprehensive and objective perspective, face the reality, and seriously consider how to realize its promise of remorsefully reflecting the history of aggression with real actions.

During that press conference, Li recalled that a German official once told him that after World War II no German leader showed any adoration for Adolf Hitler or the Nazis, and that Germans could not understand why Japanese leaders could keep doing such an immoral and "stupid" thing as visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.

Source: Xinhua