Japan must face up to history and "earnestly and properly" handle the issue of "comfort women", Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told a news conference in Beijing yesterday.
Li was speaking on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.
"The forced use of so-called 'comfort women' was one of the most serious crimes committed by the Japanese militarists during World War II," Li said. "This is a historical fact."
"Comfort women" is a euphemism for wartime sex slaves. It is estimated that during World War II, some 200,000 women from Asian countries including China were forcibly drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army to serve as sex slaves.
Li's remarks came a day after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan would not offer any new apology over wartime sex slavery. Abe told reporters last week that "there is no evidence to prove there was coercion" exercised over the foreign women.
"I think facing up to history ought to be a powerful force of progress," Li said, adding "taking history as a mirror and looking into the future is the simplest and most realistic way of solving the problem."
But Li said he is confident the visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan next month would be a success. Wen's visit, the first by a Chinese leader to the country in seven years, is of great importance to cooperation between the two sides, he added.
Li's confidence stems from his visit to Tokyo last month, where, he said, he received "a warm welcome".
"I read several Chinese words that mean 'no one can block the road of progress' at a temple on the outskirts of the beautiful ancient city Kyodo, which reminds me that generations of Chinese and Japanese people should be friends and no forces can block them," Li said.
He also said China would like to consult with Japan on East China Sea development, seeking methods acceptable to both sides and making it a sea of friendship, peace and cooperation.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. The Japanese government should avail the opportunity to expand and deepen bilateral exchanges, Li said.
Six-Party Talks
On the international negotiations on the Korean nuclear issue, Li said all sides in the Six-Party Talks should faithfully fulfill their commitments to resolving the issue.
Work groups on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and other fields will start work within nine days, according to a joint document adopted at the close of the latest round of talks last month, Li said.
Darfur issue
On the Darfur issue of Sudan, Li said, the Chinese government fully supports the consensus reached by the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudanese government on the issue.
"It's hard to imagine the world can maintain harmony and peaceful development if any country or international organization interferes in other countries' internal affairs," Li said.
Hu's visit to Russia
Speaking of President Hu Jintao's visit to Russia later this month, Li said the visit will further boost the China-Russia strategic partnership.
This year marks the Year of China in Russia, and the two countries will hold about 200 activities to promote exchanges, he said.
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