China considers Japanese leaders' Yasukuni shrine visit the crux of the matter that hinders bilateral relations especially when the two Asian countries are at odds over history textbooks and East China Sea issues.

"The Japanese leaders' Yasukuni shrine visit remains the most prominent issue hindering Sino-Japanese bilateral ties," said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan in his meeting with Toyohiko Yamanouchi, president of Japan's Kyodo News Agency on Tuesday.

"It is the crux of the matter that has resulted in a suspension of the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries," Tang said. "We cannot evade the question (of Yasukuni shrine visits) if we want to improve bilateral relations."

The question should be dealt with properly and as soon as possible, said Tang, and the Japanese leaders themselves should make a political decision conductive to good overall bilateral relations.

The Asian neighbors are currently disagreeing on Japan's official adoption of a new edition of history textbooks, which China says gloss over its wartime atrocities.

"The essence of textbook issue is whether Japan can appropriately recognize and treat its militaristic history of aggression and instill in its young generation with a correct perception of that history," said Tang.

"Japan's stance on the textbook issue is directly related to Japan's future and Japan's image in the hearts of the people of its Asian neighboring countries and the world at large," said Tang.