China on Tuesday considered Japanese Emperor Akihito's visit to a Korean war dead memorial a sign that Japan treats history issue in a correct way.

"We take note of related reports. The arrangement made by the Japanese side is presumed to be based on its correct understanding about history," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Tuesday.

Akihito left for Saipan of Northern Mariana Islands on Monday to pay homage to those killed there in a bloody battle during World War II. It is reported that Akihito made a surprise visit on Tuesday to a Korean war dead memorial.

China requires the Japanese side to take seriously the feelings of peoples from China and other Asian countries, handle properly issues concerned and follow its commitments to drawing lessons from and respecting history, Liu said.

About 1,000 Koreans were killed at the Saipan Island and nearbyislands in the World War II.

Saipan, considered vital to Japan's homeland defense during the World War II, witnessed a fierce fighting from June 15 to July 9, 1944. More than 40,000 Japanese soldiers and some 10,000 Japanese civilians on the island were killed, while about 5,000 US soldiers were killed in the battle.

Sino-Japan ties

Liu Jianchao said China and Japan had agreed to establish a bilateral financial dialogue mechanism and would discuss about details at the working level.

"The two sides expressed the hope that the first ministerial dialogue could be held at the earliest possible time" after Chinese Finance Minister Jin Renqing met with his Japanese counterpart Tanigaki Sadakazu in Tianjin last Saturday, Liu said.

In a bid to implement Chinese President Hu Jintao's proposals on promoting Sino-Japanese ties, the two finance ministers met on the eve of the Sixth Asia-Europe Finance Ministers' Meeting held in the northern China port city of Tianjin on Sunday, Liu noted.

To further promote financial cooperation between China and Japan, the two ministers agreed to enhance cooperation between the two finance ministries, which "will help promote prosperity in Asia and the world at large," Liu said.

 The two ministers agreed that China and Japan are increasingly dependent on each other in the economic field in the process of economic globalization, and are facing opportunities and challenges in economic development.

Japanese textbooks

It is legal to hold textbooks for a Japanese school in northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, said Liu Jianchao.

On April 25, Dalian Customs held temporarily 128 textbooks sentfrom Japan to the Japanese school in Dalian and found different colors were used for Taiwan and Chinese mainland on maps of 15 geography books.

One-China policy is concerned with Chinese sovereignty and Chinese people's feeling, said Liu, noting that China is dealing with it in accordance with the relevant laws.

Liu listed related laws the issue has violated, saying that 15 geography books will be returned back to Japan according to law.

Hu Jintao's visit to Russia

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks during Hu's visit to Russia beginning this Thursday, FM official said here on Tuesday.

This is Hu's second official visit to Russia as president and he will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and leaders of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation, said Li Hui, assistant to the Chinese foreign minister.

Li told a press briefing that President Hu will visit the Novosibirsk region and discuss with local leaders about moreregional cooperation.

Hu's Russia visit is aimed at deepening political mutual trust,enhancing strategic coordination, promoting substantialcooperation and expanding regional and personnel exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, Li said.

After Russia, Hu will pay his second state visit to Kazakhstan as president and attend a summit meeting of the ShanghaiCooperation Organization (SCO) in the Kazak capital of Astana before attending a G8 (Group of Eight) plus five summit in Britain.

The SCO summit, which involves leaders of member countries -- China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, will focus on cooperation in economy, security, culture, external relations and international issues, Li said.

The G8 Summit Outreach Session between the G8 and China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico will focus on the world economy and climate change.

Hu will meet leaders of the G8 countries and other major developing countries during the meeting.

The G8 comprise the world's seven leading industrial powers -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- plus Russia.

Hu attended a meeting between G8 and major developing countries in June 2003 along with leaders of India and Brazil at the 29th G8 summit meeting in France.

The SCO is an inter-governmental organization founded in China's economic hub Shanghai in 2001, which is aimed at enhancing confidence building, promoting regional cooperation and security, and working together for the creation of a new international political and economic order featuring democracy, justice and rationality.

UN human rights high commissioner coming to China

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour will visit China from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 and attend the 13th workshop on human rights in the Asia-Pacific region at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Liu said China values the important role the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) is playing in human rights protection and holds a positive attitude towards its cooperation with UNOHCHR. 

Illegal DPRK immigrants

Liu Jianchao reiterated that persons who illegally cross the border from the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) are not refugees, noting that the convention on refugee is not adapted to those people.

He said China's position on the issue is very clear, pledging that China will handle the issue in accordance with China's laws, international laws and humanitarian principles to maintain the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

"The facts have proved that China's methods on the issue is proper and effective," Liu added. 

China on Iran-EU nuclear issue

China has always supported and kept its close eye on the nuclear issue negotiations between Iran and European Union (EU), expressing the hope that the two sides would reach a long-term solution to the issue soon, Liu Jianchao said.

China appreciates the constructive attitude and diplomatic efforts made by the two sides, which will serve the common interests of the international community, Liu said.

Editor: Yan