To have a correct understanding of history is crucial to the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, which will have bearing on the continued and smooth development of the relations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in Beijing Tuesday.

At a regular press conference, spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue expressed the hope that the Japanese leaders would take into consideration the overall situation of Sino-Japanese relations and take a prudent attitude without harming the feelings of the Chinese people.

Zhang's remarks followed the statement of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Monday that he would continue to pay pilgrimage to the Yasukuni Shrine that honors the Japanese war dead, including A-class World War II war criminals.

Koizumi was reported as saying that as a Japanese, it is not wrong to pay respect to and show sincere gratitude for the war dead.

On building a national memorial without any religious background for the war dead, Koizumi said the Yasukuni Shrine would not be replaced by such a memorial even if it is set up.

Source: Xinhua