Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday sent a message to Japan's newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, expressing China's willingness to make efforts to develop good neighborly, friendly, and cooperative relations with Japan on the basis of three political documents.

The three documents -- the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Peace and Friendship Treaty, and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration -- have been the guiding principles for the development of Sino-Japanese relations over the past 30-plus years.

Also on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a message to his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso to congratulate him on his reelection.

"We hope the new Japanese leader can make positive efforts to improve and develop Sino-Japanese relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

The youngest Japanese leader since World War II, Abe, 52, announced a 17-member cabinet later yesterday. Among them, outspoken Foreign Minister Taro Aso, 66, who shares many of Abe's conservative views, kept his portfolio, while former director-general of defence, 65, was named to the defence post.

Koji Omi, 73, a former economic planning agency chief, was named finance minister, while economics professor Hiroko Ota takes over as economics minister.

Qin said China hopes Abe will "match words with deeds over the issue of placing importance on Asian diplomacy."

In the run-up to the election, Abe has stressed that improving relations with China was a priority.

Qin also repeated China's opposition to prime ministerial visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, which, among others, honours war criminals.

Relations between China and Japan are at their worst in decades because of Abe's predecessor Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the shrine, seen by China and some other Asian nations as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

"China's position on the issue of Yasukuni Shrine is consistent and clear," Qin said.

Due to Koizumi's obstinate persistence in visiting the shrine, China has refused to hold summit meetings with Japanese leaders.

"On the question of the timing and conditions for a meeting between the leaders of China and Japan, we have repeatedly clarified our position," Qin said.

Sub-cabinet level talks continued yesterday in Tokyo, led by Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and his Japanese counterpart Shotaro Yachi. Although no specifics are available, speculation has been rife that the talks are an attempt to pave the way for a summit between the leaders of the two countries.

Asked when the talks would end, Qin said they "will continue as long as needed", without elaborating on the details.

Source: Xinhua/China Daily