China Thursday urged that Japanese leaders should "put their words into real actions" to show their remorse for Japan's history of aggression.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi indicated Monday that he will visit Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine again this year, despite protests by other Asian countries against his visits to the notorious shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals responsible for Japan's aggression before and during World War II.

"I don't understand why I should stop visiting Yasukuni Shrine," Koizumi was quoted by Kyodo News as saying at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session. "I will decide when it is appropriate to go."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan cited the shrine visits by Japanese leaders as one of the most difficult issues in current China-Japan political relations, saying that the issue reflects what the Japanese government thinks about Japan's history of aggression against other Asian countries.

He said Japanese leaders have admitted time and again that that part of Japan's history enormously hurt the Asian people, including the Chinese people, and have pledged "deep remorse" for it.

"In this case, China feels that the Japanese leaders should put their words into real actions and refrain from do things that will hurt the Chinese and other Asian people," Kong told a regular press conference.

"Only through this can we lay a favorable foundation for developing a healthy, stable, and friendly relationship between China and Japan," he said.

Source: Xinhua