Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Friday Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's stand on visiting a shrine honoring the World War II war criminals hindered meetings with Chinese leaders.

"It is clear that Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine are the biggest factors," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo News at a parliamentary session.

Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals along with Japanese war dead since the mid-19th century.

Koizumi has paid four visits to the shrine since he took office in 2001, with the latest one on Jan. 1.

Despite strong protests from China that has suffered Japan's military invasions, the premier repeatedly said he will stick to the annual visit.

China has kept urging the premier to stop visit to Yasukuni Shrine.