Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday disagreed with a Japanese official's criticism of "nationalism" in China.

In response to remarks by a Japanese Embassy spokesman that nationalism was on the steady rise in China, Liu said the Chinese government opposed ultra-nationalism.

Liu described the remarks as a misinterpretation of the Chinese government's attitudes and positions, adding they were unhelpful in resolving historical differences between China and Japan and in improving bilateral relations.

Japan should squarely face the crux of difficulties in Sino-Japanese relations and take concrete measures to resolve its historical problems, to return to the track of healthy growth for bilateral relations, said the spokesman.

Source: Xinhua