A Chinese official on Wednesday urged Japanese politicians and parties to seek an appropriate solution to the crucial problem in bilateral relations.

The China-Japan relationship is confronted with difficulties at current stage, Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said when meeting with a delegation of the Japanese Social Democratic Party led by the party leader Fukushima Mizuho.

Both Chinese and Japanese politicians and political parties should have an overall view of the situation to handle the difficulties with a highly responsible attitude and long-term perspective, Wang said.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in October visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors the convicted class-A World War II criminals along with other war-dead, the fifth since he took office in April 2001. The action is viewed as a major obstacle blocking the sound development of China-Japan ties.

Fukushima said Japan-China relations are of great importance and its stable growth is in her country's interests.

She said the Social Democratic Party of Japan believes that Japan should face up to its historical responsibility and adhere to peaceful development.

Tomiichi Murayama, Japan's former Prime Minister who acted as an advisor to the delegation, said the Social Democratic Party and Japanese media shoulder the responsibility of helping the youth to acquire more knowledge about the war-time history as well as the harm and damage caused by war.

Source: Xinhua