China on Saturday criticizes Japanese leader's repeated visit to the Yasukuni Shrine and gives no verification on Shinzo Abe's visit to China in October if he becomes Japan's new Prime Minister.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement that the Japanese leader's obstinate persistence in visiting the Yasukuni Shrine is the crux which handicaps the China-Japan relations and the normal exchanges between the leaders of the two countries.

The statement came in the wake of some reports saying the diplomatic authorities of China and Japan are now working on preparations for a visit by Shinzo Abe to China in October if he becomes Japan's new prime minister.

In the statement, Qin said China has always attached great importance to developing friendly relations with Japan but didn't say anything to verify Abe's visit.

Qin said the key to solve the present difficulties is that the Japanese leader make an early resolution on thoroughly clearing up the political barrier of the shrine visits and bring the bilateral relations back to normal track for development.

"China's stance is clear and firm", Qin added.

Abe, the current chief cabinet secretary of Japan, is a very strong candidate for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election which is to be held on September 20. The winner of the election will naturally succeed Junichiro Koizumi because the ruling bloc, made up of the LDP and its coalition partner New Komeito party, holds a majority in the lower house and controls the final say in selecting the prime minister.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has visited the controversial Yasukuni Shrine every year after coming into office in 2001. His practice has greatly damaged Japan's relations with China and South Korea, which suffered Japan's militaristic atrocities during WWII.

Abe has defended Koizumi's pilgrimages to the shrine and refused to say whether or not he would visit the shrine if he becomes the new prime minister.

Source: Xinhua