China has reiterated the difference between the people of Japan and their leaders conducting visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.

Wang Guoqing, Deputy Director of the Information Office of the State Council, said, "President Hu Jintao made it clear in a meeting with the heads of seven Japan-China friendship organizations on March 31 that China believes the Japanese people's visits to the Yasukuni Shrine are made to mourn relatives.

"But the Japanese leader's visits to the shrine represents the policies of the Japanese government."

Undoubtedly, the Japanese leader has his own opinions, Wang acknowledged. "But thousands upon thousands of innocent victims killed in the war and the feelings of their relatives and the people harmed in the war should also be respected," Wang quoted Hu as saying.

"As a nation's leader," Wang added, "he should talk more about his duty rather than only talking about feelings."

China is also convinced that ordinary Japanese soldiers who were forced into war are different from the few Japanese militarists and class A criminals of the World War II, said Wang.

Source: Xinhua